Van Oord, Sumitomo Sign HVDC Framework Deal for Scottish Interconnector
SSEN Transmission has signed a long-term framework agreement with a consortium of Sumitomo Electric and Van Oord to support future high-voltage direct current (HVDC) subsea transmission infrastructure across the north of Scotland.The agreement covers the engineering, supply, transport and installation of HVDC subsea cable systems and includes initial design and engineering work for the proposed 525 kV Shetland 2 HVDC link.The framework brings together SSEN Transmission's long-term investment program, Sumitomo Electric's HVDC cable manufacturing and system design capabilities, and Van Oord's
Saipem Taps Fugro for CCS Development off UK
of it. By working closely with Saipem across nearshore and offshore environments, from early surveys through to installation, we support informed decision-making that helps Saipem manage risk across a technically complex route,” said Mike Duncan, Fugro's Director of Marine Asset Integrity in Europe and Africa
NextFloat Floating Wind Pilot Clears Key Spanish Regulatory Hurdle
mooring lines avoid seabed dragging and minimize underwater noise.The platform is designed for turbines with a 160-meter rotor diameter and has a primary steel weight of 1,500 tonnes. X1 Wind estimates this represents a weight saving of 30% to 50% compared with traditional steel floaters installed in European pre-commercial projects of a similar scale.The X100 will feature a downwind turbine with a 160-meter rotor diameter and 8.5 MW nameplate capacity. The pilot is planned to operate in offshore conditions for several years, generating data to support final prototype certification and commercial-scale
Fincantieri Strikes Four Deals in $687M Underwater Expansion
Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri has agreed to acquire majority stakes in four companies for an initial expenditure of about $687 million (€600 million), expanding its capabilities in marine drones, subsea services and underwater communications across commercial and defense markets.The agreements cover acquisitions of majority stakes in Next Geosolutions, WSense, Graal Tech, and Defcomm, which will be integrated into Fincantieri’s Underwater technological hub.Next Geosolutions, listed on Euronext Growth Milan, provides marine survey and geoscience services as well as offshore construction
Kongsberg Secures Critical Infrastructure Protection Deal
Kongsberg has signed a contract with an unnamed international customer to deliver technologies for the protection of critical infrastructure.The project will focus primarily on underwater surveillance and protection, according to Kongsberg, which did not disclose the value of the contract.Critical infrastructure includes oil and gas installations, telecommunication cables, energy grids, ports and transportation networks.“Preventing and detecting threats and attacks are essential to protect people and critical infrastructure. Kongsberg has the solutions and technology to support countries and
DNV Updates Seismic Guidance for Offshore Wind
Classifications society DNV has updated its recommended practice for the seismic design of onshore and offshore wind power plants, introducing enhanced guidance as wind development expands into earthquake-prone regions.The updated DNV-RP-0585 Seismic Design of Wind Power Plants provides harmonized guidance for assessing and managing seismic risks during project design. It complements DNV standards covering wind turbines, support structures and offshore substations, while supporting projects designed in accordance with the IEC 61400 series.According to DNV, the updated guidance reflects lessons learned
German Prosecutors Charge Ukrainian in Nord Stream Blasts Case
German federal prosecutors said on Thursday that a Ukrainian national tied to the Nord Stream pipeline blasts has been charged with being an accomplice to a war crime, disruption of public services, causing an explosion and destroying structures.Serhii K, as the suspect is known under German privacy rules, is suspected of acting on behalf of Ukrainian government entities, along with other military personnel, to destroy the pipelines in 2022.The aim was to permanently halt gas deliveries via the pipelines and prevent Russia from using the revenue from natural gas trade to finance
MESH Offshore Gas and Hydrogen Storage Scheme Enters Next Phase
EnergyPathways has launched the work program for its MESH offshore energy storage project after formally accepting a gas storage license for the development in the East Irish Sea.The company plans to carry out a site survey in the third quarter of 2026 to collect environmental, geological and seabed data that will support engineering, regulatory and subsurface studies as the project moves into its next development phase.The license area could accommodate up to 60 subsea salt caverns for large-scale energy storage, supporting compressed air energy storage (CAES), natural gas storage transitioning to
Fred Olsen’s Floating Solar Unit Advances to Exposed Waters with DNV’s Blessing
assurance is essential to demonstrating that these systems can withstand demanding environmental conditions over their full operational lifetime and give developers and investors confidence as the market evolves,” said Prajeev Rasiah, Senior Vice President and Regional Director for Northern Europe, Energy Systems at DNV."This Statement of Compliance represents a significant milestone for BRIZO. It provides confirmation of the strength of our technical approach and demonstrates that the technology is able to operate in more demanding conditions. It is an important step towards advancing
February 2026
