LNG Carrier Orders and UK Carbon Storage Construction Mark Offshore Energy Milestones

## Maritime Energy Briefing: LNG Newbuilds and CCS Infrastructure Advance Two significant developments in the offshore energy sector signal continued momentum in both LNG shipping and low-carbon infrastructure investment. ### GTT Wins Tank Design Contract for ADNOC L&S LNG Fleet France's Gaztransport & Technigaz (GTT) has been selected to provide membrane tank design for four new liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers, according to Offshore Energy. The vessels are being constructed at a Chinese shipyard on behalf of UAE-based ADNOC Logistics and Services (ADNOC L&S), the maritime logistics and shipping arm of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) Group. GTT's proprietary containment system technology is widely regarded as the industry standard for LNG carrier construction, and the contract underscores the continued expansion of ADNOC L&S's LNG shipping capacity. The order reflects broader Gulf state ambitions to control a greater share of the LNG value chain — from production through to seaborne transportation — as global demand for the fuel remains robust amid the ongoing energy transition. The pairing of Chinese shipbuilding capacity with French containment technology and UAE ownership is emblematic of the increasingly multinational character of LNG newbuild programmes. ### UK's First Offshore CCS Project Breaks Ground In a separate but equally consequential development, offshore construction has commenced on the United Kingdom's first offshore carbon capture and storage (CCS) project, Offshore Energy reports. A large pipelaying vessel has arrived on site, marking the transition from planning and permitting into active marine construction. The project represents a landmark moment for the UK's decarbonisation strategy, which has identified offshore CCS — the permanent geological storage of captured CO₂ beneath the seabed — as a critical tool for meeting its net-zero targets. The arrival of a major pipelayer signals that subsea infrastructure work is now underway in earnest. Offshore CCS projects require substantial marine logistics support, including specialised installation vessels, survey operations, and ongoing monitoring infrastructure, making them significant contributors to the offshore services sector. ### Outlook Together, these developments illustrate the dual-track nature of the current energy landscape: sustained investment in LNG shipping infrastructure to meet near-term demand, alongside accelerating construction of the carbon management systems that will be essential to long-term emissions reduction goals. Both trends are expected to generate sustained demand for specialised vessels, offshore contractors, and marine engineering expertise through the remainder of the decade.