Norway Plans Biggest Frontier Oil and Gas Licensing Round in Years

Norway, Europe\’s leading natural gas supplier, is gearing up for its most significant oil and gas licensing round in years, signaling a renewed push to bolster exploration and production amid ongoing global energy demands. The Norwegian government has announced preparations for the 26th licensing round, focusing on frontier areas unexplored since 2021, with invitations for […]

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Shipowners warned GPS spoofing groundings may not be covered by insurance

The Association of Average Adjusters (AAA) has issued a warning to the maritime sector, highlighting the growing legal ambiguity around insurance claims involving vessel groundings linked to GPS spoofing. In a new discussion paper, the AAA warns that cyber exclusion clauses increasingly found in hull & machinery (H&M) policies—most notably the LMA5403 clause—could leave shipowners […]

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Panama cracks down on STS transfers in bid to clean up fleet

The Panama Ship Registry has become the first flag in the world to implement stricter controls and mandatory traceability for offshore ship-to-ship (STS) transfers of hydrocarbons. Non-compliance—depending on its severity—may lead to the cancellation of a vessel’s Panamanian registration. The regulation requires all Panamanian-flagged oil tankers with a gross tonnage of 150 or more to […]

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Norway to demand insurance disclosure from foreign tankers

Norwegian authorities will require foreign-flagged tankers operating within the country’s economic zone to disclose their insurance arrangements starting August 11. The new rule, announced by Norway’s coastal administration, is part of a broader push to enhance maritime safety and environmental protection amid mounting concerns over the growing presence of shadow tankers in northern European waters. […]

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Russia\’s oil exports have decreased modestly since 2022, shifting toward Asia

Data source: U.S. Energy Information Administration analysis based on Global Trade Tracker, Argus, and Vortexa Note: Data for 2025 are preliminary. 1H25=first half of 2025. figure data From 2020 to 2024, crude oil and condensate exports from Russia averaged 5.0 million barrels per day (b/d). Exports from Russia in the first half of 2025 (1H25) were 4.3 million b/d (compared […]

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