Maritime Industry Briefing: IMO Expands Regional Presence While Equinor Takes Full Control of Bay du Nord

## IMO Strengthens Field Support With Regional Coordinator Appointments The International Maritime Organization has named its full team of regional coordinators to lead seven newly established regional presence offices, marking a significant step in the UN agency's effort to decentralize technical assistance and bring support closer to member states. According to Splash247, the coordinators will oversee operations spanning the Caribbean, East Asia, Eastern and Southern Africa, and additional regions, reflecting the IMO's commitment to improving on-the-ground engagement with developing maritime nations. The move is widely seen as a strategic effort to enhance implementation of international maritime conventions and capacity-building programmes at a regional level, rather than relying solely on coordination from IMO headquarters in London. The appointments signal a broader institutional shift within the IMO toward more responsive, regionally tailored support — a priority that has grown in importance as member states face increasingly complex regulatory, environmental, and safety challenges in their respective maritime sectors. --- ## Equinor Acquires BP's Stake in $10 Billion Bay du Nord Project In a significant offshore energy transaction, Norwegian energy major Equinor has agreed to purchase BP's interest in the Bay du Nord deepwater oil project located offshore Canada, bringing its ownership stake to 100%, Splash247 reports. The deal is consistent with BP's ongoing strategy of portfolio simplification, as the British supermajor continues to divest non-core assets to streamline operations and manage capital allocation. For Equinor, full ownership of Bay du Nord provides greater operational flexibility and consolidates its position as the project's sole decision-maker as development progresses. Valued at approximately $10 billion, Bay du Nord represents one of the most significant deepwater developments in the Atlantic Canadian region. The project, located in the Flemish Pass Basin off the coast of Newfoundland, has been a focal point for Canada's offshore oil ambitions and is expected to play a meaningful role in the country's long-term energy production profile. Equinor's move to take full control underscores the company's confidence in the project's commercial viability, even as the broader energy industry navigates the transition toward lower-carbon sources. The transaction is subject to customary regulatory approvals. --- *Sources: Splash247*