Maritime Industry Briefing: Shadow VLCC Sales, Offshore Wind Acquisition, and Oilfield Services Shifts

## Shadow VLCC Sales Show Shifting Ownership According to Splash247, two recent VLCC (very large crude carrier) sales demonstrate an interesting pattern of quick name changes for these vessels. A 20-year-old VLCC has changed its name three times in the past year, from 'Great Lady' to 'Merd' to 'Haishen' and now 'Keegan'. This rapid succession of name changes often indicates changes in ownership or management of the vessel. The maritime news outlet noted that these 'shadow' VLCC sales, where the true owner or operator is obscured, have become more common in recent years as shipowners seek to maintain anonymity. While the reasons behind the name changes are not always clear, they highlight the complex and sometimes opaque nature of ownership in the global shipping industry. ## Poland's PGE Acquires Full Control of Baltic Offshore Wind Project In other news, Splash247 reported that Polish utility Polska Grupa Energetyczna (PGE) has acquired full ownership of the Baltic II offshore wind farm project in the Polish Baltic Sea. The project, which has a planned capacity of 350MW, was previously co-owned by German utility RWE. This transaction gives PGE sole control over the development of the Baltic II wind farm, which is part of Poland's efforts to expand its offshore wind energy capacity in the Baltic. As The Maritime Executive notes, Poland is aiming to have 5.9 GW of offshore wind installed by 2030 as it works to reduce its reliance on coal-fired power generation. ## SLB Scales Back Middle East Operations Amid Regional Tensions Oilfield services giant SLB, formerly known as Schlumberger, has begun curtailing its operations in the Middle East due to the ongoing regional crisis, according to a report from Splash247. The company has suspended travel to and transit through the region, and has started to demobilize operations in several countries in response to customer requests. This move by SLB, one of the world's largest oilfield services providers, reflects the broader uncertainty and instability affecting the energy sector in the Middle East. As Seatrade Maritime notes, the company's decision to scale back its regional presence is likely a prudent measure to protect its personnel and assets amid the volatile geopolitical environment.