A proposal by the opposition Conservative Party seeking financial scrutiny of a NOK35 billion ($3.70 billion) subsidy for floating wind was supported by the Progress Party, the Christian People's Party, and the Red Party.

The minority government wants to support the construction of a 500 megawatts (MW) project at Utsira Nord off Norway's south-west coast, with two groups cleared to develop projects and enter a competition for subsidies in 2028-2029.

The Conservative Party in a parliamentary debate argued that the funding agreed as part of a budget deal in 2024 lacked a thorough review of whether it would yield the desired results.

But the review mandated by parliament was a risk to both ongoing and future projects, sowing uncertainty among investors, the energy minister and industry representatives warned.

"If the offshore wind investment stops now, it is entirely the fault of the Conservative Party and the Progress Party that Norway is losing electricity, industrial activity and jobs," Energy Minister Terje Aasland told Reuters by e-mail.

Norway, a major oil and gas producer, is seeking to sharply increase its renewable energy output in the coming decades to meet rising demand as more industries "decarbonise" their operations. Offshore wind is also seen as a technology pivot for supplier industries that still mainly serve oil and gas projects.

However, its economics remain heavily reliant on taxpayer-funded subsidies and guaranteed prices rather than standalone market viability.

Renewable energy and industrial development have become major flashpoints in Norwegian politics.

Earlier this year, opposition parties sought to block an ongoing electrification project at the Hammerfest liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant, although the motion was narrowly defeated.

(Reporting by Nora Buli, editing by Terje Solsvik, Baird Maritime)

The NATO BALTOPS naval exercise, which began on June 4 and runs until June 20, are the biggest war games in the Baltic Sea this year, bringing together some 20 vessels from 15 nations with around 6,000 personnel.

Russia carried out its own drills from June 8–9 in and near its Kaliningrad exclave, involving around 10 military aircraft, including fighter jets and bombers, as well as two small missile ships, according to Interfax.

Kaliningrad, located on the Baltic coast between NATO members Lithuania and Poland, has a population of around one million. It is heavily militarised and serves as the headquarters of Russia's Baltic Fleet.

President Vladimir Putin said in late May that Russia had all necessary means to destroy any force attempting to attack Kaliningrad after Lithuania's foreign minister said NATO should show Moscow it could penetrate the exclave.

(Reporting by Maxim Rodionov Editing by Andrew Osborn)

The Indian Register of Shipping (IRClass) is among the world's leading ship certifiers and removal from its list is likely to complicate a vessel's ability to secure insurance and potentially access ports.

Since 2023, Mumbai-based IRClass has de-classed 235 ships from its registry, mainly oil tankers and also a few gas carriers, the non-profit organisation's Executive Chairman Arun Sharma said.

He said the registry previously had a number of ships that were hit with Western sanctions, but it now had "a very comprehensive" sanctions policy.

"From almost 2023 onwards, we are not taking any ships which have any sanctions, whether it is US or European or UK sanctions," Sharma said, referring to Western sanctions imposed on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine and on Iran over its nuclear programme and other activities.

IRClass' move is a sign of India taking a different stance to China, which last month ordered firms not to comply with US sanctions on five Chinese refiners over purchases of Iranian oil.

India, the world's third-biggest oil importer and consumer, last month also declined Russia’s offer to sell it liquefied natural gas subject to US sanctions.

"We have released almost about 13 million (gross) tons of tonnage which were sanctioned vessels, but could not satisfactorily explain to us why there was a sanction. So, there was a huge amount of tonnage which we de-classed," Sharma said of the cancelled cover.

Not certifying ships, however, also risks adding to the so-called "shadow fleet" of ships that have no known insurance or compliance with environmental safety standards.

Hundreds of such ships have not only helped Iran and Russia circumvent sanctions, but have also posed a threat of oil spills and fuel leaks in busy sea lanes.

IRClass and other top shipping certifiers provide services including the safety checks that are necessary for securing entry to port and services such as insurance.

Sharma said that while IRClass would not take any ships owned by Iranian or Russian entities, there were limitations to what IRClass was able to determine about the cargo carried.

"Today, we may take in a ship which is as per the registry, non-Russian, non-Iranian, and tomorrow (the vessel) carries oil from Iran to somewhere...we don't have any control on that."

(Reporting by Jonathan Saul; Editing by Susan Fenton)

Approximately $13.5 million will be available this year for projects under the five-year initiative, known as the Cooperative Institute Fostering Aquaculture Research and Markets (CIFARM).

Research at the institution will focus on marine aquaculture demonstration projects, engineering and technology development, artificial intelligence for aquaculture, environmental observations and forecasting, risk management and vulnerability analysis, and seafood markets research.

To support industry advancement, these research priorities will also seek to expand scientific education, outreach, and engagement.

The University of New Hampshire is collaborating with several academic and marine research institutions, along with sea grant organizations from across the United States.

“The United States is finally recognizing aquaculture as a vital complement to our world-class fisheries,” explained Neil Jacobs, NOAA Administrator.

Eugenio Piñeiro Soler, Assistant Administrator for NOAA Fisheries, noted that the investment reflects a commitment to improving sustainable fisheries through science-based management to, "empower the industry to produce more seafood for American plates".

According to the agency, Americans consume $24.2 billion in imported seafood annually, with approximately half of that amount estimated to be farmed in other countries.

Congress directed the creation of this cooperative institute during the fiscal year 2024 congressional appropriations.

Fulfilling a 2020 executive order on seafood competitiveness, NOAA noted the initiative also supports a 2025 executive order issued by President Donald Trump to restore American seafood competitiveness.

The main Baltic index fell 98 points, or 3.4 per cent, to 2,818.

The Capesize index was down 278 points, or 5.9 per cent, at 4,441. Average daily earnings for Capesize vessels fell $2,524 to $36,771.

Iron ore futures fell for the fifth straight session on Tuesday amid seasonally weak steel demand in China, while coking coal and coke prices slumped as more coal mines reopened after safety inspections following a fatal mine accident in May.

The Panamax index fell 13 points, or 0.6 per cent, to 2,205. Average daily earnings for Panamax vessels fell $120 to $19,846.

Among smaller vessels, the supramax index was up 18 points, or 1.1 per cent, at 1,614.

(Reporting by Anjana Anil in Bengaluru; Editing by Vijay Kishore)

Around 92 GW of offshore wind was installed by the end of 2025, enough to power around 100 million homes.

More than 327 GW of new offshore wind capacity is forecast to be added in the next decade, taking global offshore wind capacity to 420 GW by the end of 2035, the report said.

More than 50 GW of offshore wind projects are currently under construction around the world. Annual installations are expected to double this year, triple by 2031 and surpass 50 GW per year by 2035.

China accounts for 52 per cent of the global offshore wind market, having overtaken Britain in 2021. Germany, the Netherlands and Taiwan are also among the top five countries for offshore wind installations.

"Offshore wind is a natural fit for many countries but there are still too many solvable challenges that are delaying more projects being built," said Rebecca Williams, deputy CEO of GWEC. "The planning and grid connection process can be painfully slow and beset with risks for developers and investors," she added.

The sector has also faced criticism for relying heavily on taxpayer-funded subsidies and regulatory support to remain commercially viable despite years of investment and expansion.

(Reporting by Nina Chestney; Editing by Kirsten Donovan)

Ultra-low-sulphur diesel shipments from Primorsk, Russia's biggest outlet for diesel exports, fell last month to 1.375 million tonnes, down five per cent from April, the sources said.

A number of Russia's major refineries were hit by drone strikes in May, including the Lukoil-owned NORSI refinery, Rosneft's Ryazan refinery and Surgutneftegaz-owned Kirishi refinery - one of the country's biggest diesel producers.

Although diesel production in Russia fell by around 10 per cent in May, exports changed slightly, as traders raced to capitalise on surging fuel prices driven by tensions surrounding the Iran war.

To meet the seasonal rise of domestic demand, Russia could consider tightening oversight over exports in coming months.

In May, Turkey and Brazil continued to dominate as top buyers, snapping up the bulk of available cargoes, shipping data showed.

Still, tankers carrying a combined 300,000 tonnes of diesel have yet to declare their discharge ports, according to LSEG data.

Another group of vessels carrying about 300,000 tonnes of Russian diesel is heading to anchorages near Port Said in Egypt and Limassol in Cyprus for ship-to-ship transfers. The final destinations of these cargoes are unclear at the moment.

Beyond the key buyers, Morocco, Ghana and Egypt also emerged as major importers of Russian diesel cargoes in May, according to shipping data.

(Reporting by Reuters in Moscow Editing by Louise Heavens)

Operating in the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organisation regulatory area, the campaign aims to gather data on species of commercial interest to the Spanish fleet.

The ministry reported that its oceanographic research vessel Vizconde de Eza will depart from the port of Vigo on June 7 to begin the survey. The research initiative is scheduled to run from June 15 to July 4, before concluding in the Canadian port of St. John's on July 5.

Scientists will collect biological, growth, and reproduction data on populations such as American plaice, cod, Greenland halibut, redfish, lemon sole, grouper, grenadier, and northern shrimp.

The ministry stated this research is highly relevant for Northwest Atlantic bottom trawl fisheries, where redfish constitutes approximately nine per cent of the catch and Greenland halibut accounts for four per cent.

Data collected down to a maximum depth of 1,500 metres will also be used to analyse invertebrate communities and water parameters to assist the NAFO Scientific Council in assessing regional stocks.

The campaign has run continuously since 1995 under the Vigo Oceanographic Centre of the Spanish Institute of Oceanography and is co-funded by the European Maritime Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund.

The 53-metre-long Vizconde de Eza is equipped with six specialised laboratories and a specialised propulsion system designed to conduct silent navigation for acoustic data collection.

The US military's Central Command said the AH-64 Apache went down at around 03:00 local time on Tuesday (23:00 GMT on Monday) near the coast of Oman while patrolling regional waters. It gave no reason for the crash.

The US and Iran have been in an uneasy ceasefire, with periodic clashes and Iranian drone and missile strikes on US regional allies.

The US military said the drone that carried out the rescue was a US Navy Corsair, which manufacturer Saronic says on its website is a 24-foot (7.3-metre) autonomous surface vessel (ASV) capable of carrying up to 1,000 lbs (454 kilograms) over 1,000 nautical miles.

"The drone picked them up and transported them to another location on the water where they were hoisted up to a helicopter for further transport," said Navy Captain Tim Hawkins, a Central Command spokesperson. Hawkins said the drone was chosen for the mission due to its proximity and capability.

The US Fifth Fleet’s Task Force 59, which operates in the region, is a dedicated unit for integrating unmanned systems and artificial intelligence with everyday maritime operations.

Speaking on the runway at John F. Kennedy International Airport before returning to Washington, Trump said there was "nobody injured."

US Central Command used more cautious language to describe the condition of the two, saying they were in stable condition.

US President Donald Trump later said on social media that Iran had shot down the helicopter and vowed to respond.

(Reporting by Phil Stewart in Washington; Additional reporting by Jarrett Renshaw in Washington and Ruchika Khanna in Bengaluru; Editing by Jamie Freed, Gareth Jones, Nick Zieminski and Andrea Ricci)

The Offshore Alliance, made up of the Maritime Union of Australia and the Australian Workers' Union, said on Monday it would escalate the strike at Inpex's Ichthys sites in Australia after the Fair Work Commission's facilitated bargaining failed to resolve key pay and conditions claims.

Inpex said it had sought the Fair Work Commission's help so the parties could continue their talks to reach an agreement.

"While substantial progress has been achieved, several key items are yet to be resolved, including rates of pay, allowances, and career progression framework," Inpex said in an emailed response to Reuters.

The Japanese firm also said that it had been notified of further protected industrial actions that might occur from June 11-26.

Ichthys accounts for about 10 per cent of Australia's LNG supply, putting the dispute in focus for energy traders as Japan faces a possible LNG supply crunch due to the Iran war. Australia is Japan's largest LNG supplier.

"If the Ichthys production facilities are taken offline, there will be impacts to our LNG buyers and to the recipients of our domestic gas supply in the Northern Territory, the company said.

On Monday, the Australian union said on social media it had filed a complaint against Inpex with Australia's offshore energy regulator, alleging that the company is using unqualified workers to operate critical equipment at its Ichthys liquefied natural gas facilities.

(Reporting by Rajasik Mukherjee; Editing by Nivedita Bhattacharjee)

The increase was fuelled by retailers and manufacturers rushing to bring in goods ahead of a new round of proposed US tariffs and worries the US-Israeli war with Iran could lead to higher energy prices as well as shortages of goods and raw materials derived from crude oil, analysts and shippers said.

US seaports last month handled 2,428,758 20-foot equivalent units (TEU), the standard measure for container volume.

Chinese-origin imports accounted for 816,197 TEU, up 28.1 per cent from May 2025, led by plastics, furniture and bedding.

China's share of total US containerised imports was 33.6 per cent in May, up from 29.9 per cent in April.

For the first five months of the year, volumes are down 1.9 per cent compared with the same period in 2025.

(Reporting by Lisa Baertlein; Editing by Sonali Paul)

The pro-rated gross freight rate for the month stood at $98.2 per cubic metre, representing a 4.4 per cent increase compared to the average of $94.1 per cubic metre recorded during the previous three months.

Conversely, the pro-rated net freight rate fell by one per cent to $77.5 per cubic metre from the three-month average of $78.3 per cubic metre.

High and heavy and breakbulk cargo accounted for 23 per cent of the pro-rated volumes carried in May, compared to 22 per cent over the preceding three months.

Chief Executive Officer Andreas Enger noted that performance during the month aligned with expectations despite ongoing regional challenges.

"May delivered within expectations, with continued disruptions related to Middle East-bound volumes and strong demand from Asia," Enger said. He added that the rise in gross rates largely reflects one-off surcharges covering additional voyage and handling costs associated with rerouted cargo following the Middle East disruption.

The task force confirmed the presence of a floating structure measuring six by six metres and featuring what appeared to be an antenna in the disputed Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea.

"The Philippine Government will continue to take appropriate actions consistent with international law and in defence of the country's national interests," it said in a statement, adding that the protection of Manila's sovereignty and jurisdiction "remains a paramount consideration."

The structure, initially spotted at the entrance to the shoal and later inside its lagoon, appeared to be manned, the task force said, citing the latest images from the armed forces.

The task force did not say when the images were taken, but Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro said on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on May 30 that he had received information indicating the presence of the structure on the shoal.

The task force said it is closely monitoring developments and assessing the nature, purpose and potential implications of the installation, insisting that Scarborough, "is part of the Philippines and within its maritime zones as recognised by international law."

China's foreign ministry on Tuesday reiterated China's "indisputable sovereignty" over the Scarborough Shoal, which it calls Huangyan Island, and its adjacent waters. It said China's activities there, including scientific research, are legitimate.

"China urges the Philippines to stop its maritime infringements, provocations and inflammatory hype," foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said during a regular press conference when asked about the "diplomatic action."

Satellite images obtained by Reuters on June 5 confirmed the presence of a structure at the lagoon's entrance, but later images showed it was no longer present.

Scarborough is a prime fishing spot located 200 kilometres (124 miles) off the western coast of the country. It is also 874 km from Hainan, China's nearest landmass.

Since 2012, China has maintained constant deployment of coastguard and maritime militia ships in the area.

Sovereignty over Scarborough has not been established, but a 2016 arbitral tribunal ruled largely in favour of the Philippines, saying China's blockade of the shoal violated international law and that the area was a traditional fishing ground for several countries.

(Reporting by Mikhail Flores and Nestor Corrales; Additional reporting by Xiuhao Chen in Beijing; Editing by David Stanway and Thomas Derpinghaus)

Kpler data that had showed the Suezmax tanker Ocean Start delivered Iranian oil crude to Petron's Bataan refinery on May 17 was revised to show the tanker delivered Urals crude from Russia, Kpler told Reuters on Monday.

The revision was due to a review of further information on the voyage, Kpler said.

Kpler's revised data showed that the Ocean Start received the cargo in early May through a ship-to-ship (STS) transfer in waters off Singapore from the Suezmax ship Caruzo, which had loaded at Russia's Sheskharis in late March.

Previously, Kpler had said the Ocean Start had received the cargo from the tanker Kylo, which loaded the crude at Iran's Kharg Island on March 27.

Another analytics firm, Vortexa, said this week that it still identifies the cargo as Iranian crude delivered to Petron's refinery by the Ocean Start following an STS transfer from the Noxen, which has the same IMO number as Kylo on ship tracking platforms.

Petron, the country's largest oil company, did not respond to requests for comment in May and again this week.

The Trump administration granted a 30-day waiver on sanctions related to purchases of Iranian oil at sea from March 20 to April 19, in a bid to ease oil prices that had surged following the US-Israeli conflict with Iran.

The Philippines, which relies heavily on Middle Eastern crude imports, also received a US waiver to purchase Russian crude oil and petroleum products, the country's energy department said in late April.

(Reporting by Florence Tan and Siyi Liu in Singapore; Additional reporting by Karen Lema in Manila; Editing by Helen Popper and Neil Fullick)

China, which views democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory, was angered after Japan and the Philippines said last month they would begin formal talks on their maritime boundaries, viewing that as involving waters off Taiwan.

Late on Saturday, Chinese state media reported ships had been sent to carry out a "special maritime traffic law-enforcement operation" in the waters east of Taiwan in response to the Japanese and Philippine announcement.

In a statement, Taiwan's coast guard said that since Sunday the Chinese ships had broadcast messages to three passing commercial ships asking for information such as their ports of departure and destination.

Taiwan's own ships broadcast back that these were Taiwanese waters in which China had no jurisdiction and the Chinese vessels should, "not harass ships," the coast guard said.

China's Taiwan Affairs Office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Beijing recognises no claims of sovereignty by Taiwan's government.

Taiwan's coast guard said it also broadcast to the passing merchant ships that they should pay no heed to the inquiries of the Chinese vessels.

The coast guard said ships passing through Taiwan's waters maintained normal navigation and were not boarded, inspected, approached, or interfered with by the Chinese Government vessels.

Responding to the stepped up Chinese coast guard activity, a US State Department spokesperson said in a statement that the US expected differences between China and Taiwan to be resolved by peaceful means and "free from coercion".

"We urge Beijing to cease its military, diplomatic, and economic pressure against Taiwan and instead engage in meaningful dialogue with the elected leadership," the spokesperson added.

Taiwan's government rejects Beijing's sovereignty claims. Beijing refuses to speak with Taiwan President Lai Ching-te, saying he is a "separatist".

(Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Kate Mayberry)