Offshore Energy Briefing: Solstad Secures Long-Term Charter, TotalEnergies Advances PNG LNG, and BP Upgrades Shah Deniz Automation

## Offshore Energy Briefing: Contract Awards and Infrastructure Investment Drive Sector Activity The offshore energy sector is registering a series of notable contract awards and project milestones this week, underscoring continued operator confidence in long-cycle energy infrastructure despite broader market uncertainties. ### Solstad Locks In Three-Year CSV Charter Norwegian offshore vessel owner Solstad Maritime (SOMA) has signed a letter of intent (LoI) with an undisclosed 'key client' for the charter of one of its construction support vessels (CSVs), according to Offshore Energy. The agreement covers an initial firm period of three years, with additional option periods that could extend the vessel's deployment further. While the identity of the client has not been disclosed, the multi-year nature of the commitment reflects the tightening market for high-specification construction support tonnage and operators' desire to secure vessel capacity well in advance. Solstad Maritime has been actively repositioning its fleet to capitalise on growing demand from the offshore wind and oil and gas construction segments. ### TotalEnergies Selects Daewoo E&C for Papua New Guinea LNG Package France's TotalEnergies has named Seoul-based Daewoo Engineering & Construction (Daewoo E&C) as preferred bidder for a major engineering and construction package on its liquefied natural gas project in Papua New Guinea, Offshore Energy reports. The Papua New Guinea LNG sector has attracted sustained international interest given the country's substantial gas reserves and its strategic position supplying Asian markets. TotalEnergies' selection of Daewoo E&C — a contractor with a strong track record in large-scale LNG facilities — signals that the project is advancing toward a more concrete execution phase. Further contractual details, including the scope and value of the package, are expected to be confirmed upon finalisation of the award. ### Emerson to Deliver Integrated Automation for BP's Shah Deniz Platform Technology and engineering firm Emerson has been contracted to provide integrated control and safety systems for BP's Shah Deniz compression project in the Caspian Sea, according to a company announcement. The scope covers automation solutions designed to support remote operations on what will be a normally unattended offshore platform, with the stated objectives of improving safety, reliability, and gas recovery efficiency. The award extends an existing collaboration between BP and Emerson and reflects the broader industry trend toward digitally enabled, remotely operated offshore infrastructure as operators seek to reduce personnel exposure and optimise production economics. --- *These developments collectively point to an offshore energy market in which operators and contractors are committing to multi-year programmes across vessel services, LNG development, and platform technology — a pattern consistent with the sustained capital expenditure recovery observed across the sector in recent years.*