Maritime Industry Briefing: Turkey's Offshore Wind Push, Iran Sanctions Row, Hapag-Lloyd Retrofits, and Southampton's Crane Investment

## Maritime Industry Briefing ### Turkey Charts Course for First Major Offshore Wind Auction Turkey has taken a significant step toward establishing a large-scale offshore wind sector, publishing draft rules for its inaugural 1GW offshore wind auction. According to Splash247, the so-called YEKA OWPP-2026 specification would grant successful investors a 49-year right to develop and operate a project across one of four candidate sea areas. The move signals Turkey's ambition to diversify its energy mix and positions the country as an emerging market for offshore wind developers and the maritime supply chain. The draft rules are now open for review, with the formal auction process expected to follow in 2026. ### US Tanker Owner Condemns Iran Sanctions Waiver International Seaways CEO Lois Zabrocky has publicly criticised the granting of waivers that allow Iranian oil cargoes to move outside the framework of US sanctions compliance. Speaking to Seatrade Maritime, Zabrocky argued that such cargoes should be carried exclusively by owners who operate within the law, highlighting the competitive disadvantage faced by compliant Western tanker operators when shadow fleet vessels move sanctioned oil with apparent impunity. The comments reflect growing frustration within the legitimate tanker sector over enforcement inconsistencies that distort market dynamics. ### Hapag-Lloyd Dual-Fuel Retrofit Programme Reaches First Milestone The first of five planned dual-fuel engine retrofits for Hapag-Lloyd has been completed, with the container ship Seaspan Yangtze successfully recommissioned following conversion work carried out by Everllence shipyard. Seatrade Maritime reports that the project marks a meaningful step in Hapag-Lloyd's decarbonisation strategy, with four further vessels in the programme still to follow. Dual-fuel retrofits are increasingly viewed as a pragmatic near-term solution for carriers seeking to reduce emissions and comply with tightening IMO regulations without committing to newbuild orders. ### DP World Southampton Installs Europe's Largest Quay Cranes DP World's Southampton terminal has received what are described as Europe's largest quay cranes, representing an $80 million capital investment by the Dubai-based port operator, according to Seatrade Maritime. The new equipment is designed to handle the latest generation of ultra-large container vessels and underscores DP World's commitment to maintaining Southampton's competitiveness as a premier UK gateway port. The investment is expected to enhance throughput capacity and operational efficiency at one of Britain's busiest container terminals.