TGS-NOPEC Geophysical Company ASA (TGS) signs letter of intent (LoI) for charter of an estimated six months of 3d vessel capacity from Oslo-listed seismic vessel operator Polarcus. TGS intends to charter a vessel from Polarcus in 2016 to…
AFP reports that the G7 summit would express concern about unilateral efforts to assert sovereignty claims in the disputed South China Sea. John Kirton, director of think-tank the G7 Research Group, has said maritime disputes between…
The revival of the idea of building the Kra Canal through Thailand to enable shipping to bypass the narrow Straits of Malacca has been in the news recently. The plan would be to build a 750 mile (1,200Km) canal at an estimated cost of $28 billion…
Philippines undersecretary for foreign affairs policy Evan Garcia says that tension with China over disputed islands in the South China Sea is the country's most pressing security concern, reports Radio Australia. 'We are focusing immediately…
China has outlined a first ever 'white paper' on military strategy that outlined a more robust posture for its blue-water navy, and warned of threats to its security from 'still smouldering' boundary disputes over land. The paper comes…
The University-National Oceanographic Laboratory System (UNOLS) informs it is seeking nominations to fill a Fleet Improvement Committee (FIC) Chair position. The position, which becomes vacant in Fall 2015, would see the selected candidate…
Sea ice in the Arctic Ocean is at its lowest May level since records began in the 1980s, says Al Jazeera. The lowest levels in the history of Arctic sea ice observation for this time of year and likely the lowest levels for hundreds, even thousands of years…
The National Ocean Industries Association (NOIA) has promoted Megan Bel Miller to Vice President for Government and Political Affairs. She will lead NOIA's Congressional relations and Political Action Committee.Megan joined the NOIA staff in May 2013 as Senior Director…
The Indian Navy's indigenous offshore patrol vessel, INS Saryu, will participate in a week-long ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Disaster Relief Exercise (DiREx). According to an official statement, the vessel is commanded by Cdr Sreekumar Pillai and operates under the Andaman and Nicobar Command…
The Dutch maritime technology sector has had a good year. Turnover increased by 17%, from EUR 6.4 billion in 2013 to EUR 7.5 billion in 2014. The sector employed 31,680 FTEs, up from 29,361 in 2013. “Overall we see a nuanced picture, with ups and downs…
China has denied it is involved in work on the Kra canal, defusing hype over a project that purportedly lets ships bypass the Strait of Malacca and Singapore's port, reports Strait Times. There are no plans by the Chinese government to participate…
Global surface warming has slowed since the start of the twenty-first century, while Pacific heat uptake was enhanced. Analyses of ocean heat content suggest that the warm water was transferred to the Indian Ocean, through the Indonesian straits…
On Tuesday, 19 May 2015 the research icebreaker Polarstern will leave its home port in Bremerhaven, setting a course for the Arctic. Led by Dr Ilka Peeken from the Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research (AWI)…
Thailand and China have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) in Guangzhou to jointly cut a shipping passage across Kra Isthmus in southern Thailand, the narrowest part of the Malay Peninsula. The canal, located at Kra Isthmus, will…
EU foreign ministers have agreed to launch a military mission against migrant smugglers in the Mediterranean. The decision allows European governments to move ahead with plans for a naval operation. European naval forces will intercept…
