TRENDING NOW: uncrewed ocean mapping, trump era energy outlook, and blue tech startups.
Ocean News & Technology
The source chosen by industry professionals for the latest ocean tech news, views, and insights.
Sneak Peek of "TAKE 5: The ON&T Interview with Fugro"
Fugro has long championed the development and deployment of remote and autonomous solutions in the marine domain, so we sat down with Nick Simmons, Service Line Director – USV services EUAF to get his vision of how uncrewed vehicles look set to play an increasingly instrumental role in establishing safer, more sustainable offshore operations.
Fugro has created a sophisticated eco-system of uncrewed surface vessels (USVs) aimed at making marine operations more efficient, safer, and environmentally friendly. Our fleet includes the Blue Shadow?, Blue Essence?, and Blue Eclipse? USVs, each equipped with advanced sensors and communication systems. These perform tasks such as seabed mapping, subsea inspections, and geophysical surveys with minimal environmental impact compared to more traditional ways of working. We can conduct entire survey scopes without sending any personnel offshore, significantly reducing carbon emissions and enhancing operational safety.
Sneak Peek of "Next Trump Era Will Bring Greater Focus on Energy"
When the Biden administration announced more sanctions on Russia’s oil industry—producer CEOs, crude oil traders, ghost fleet tankers, and oilfield service companies—investor views shifted for when the global oil supply/demand would balance—sooner than anticipated. The result was crude oil prices rising from below $70 to almost $80 a barrel. As our chart shows, oil prices are suddenly back to the central value that existed for most of 2024.
Following Donald Trump’s inauguration, his speeches and comments referenced his focus on promoting America’s energy to reduce inflation. So, it was not a surprise that crude oil futures prices declined. Of course, the day was also a national holiday, which likely limited oil trading volumes.
While emotional reactions to policy comments might have impacted the day’s oil price, there is no question the global oil market has changed. Energy is what makes the world’s economy operate. Without petroleum, economic growth stops. Global economic growth can accelerate if energy prices can be reduced and sustained at a lower level. It will require more oil supply. However, oil prices cannot fall too low—below the breakeven price for new oil exploration—or supply will not arrive, and a future oil price spike will deliver a devastating economic fallout.
Sneak Peek of "Prized Innovation"
The barriers to entry for pioneering from identifying suitable funding opportunities to navigating the complex and legal and often shifting regulatory landscape. However, with the Blue Economy increasing on the geopolitical agenda, the need to foster a culture of entrepreneurship is more pressing than ever.
ON&T is a long-time supporter of the blue tech startup community and last year partnered with Ocean Exchange , an established ocean tech accelerator that runs an international awards program geared at offering unique scale-up opportunities to its winners.
Stay up to date with the latest developments in the UNCREWED sector at oceannews.com/uncrewed: