Middle East

WSS Middle East Wins World Cargo Alliance Award

Wilhelmsen Ships Service (WSS) has won the prestigious title of ‘Best Partner 2011 - Middle East,’ which was presented by the World Cargo Alliance (WCA) at their annual conference in Bangkok earlier this month. “We are honored to have taken this title, and I would like to extend my sincere congratulations to the maritime logistics team in the Middle East for their splendid work throughout 2011,” said Flemming Andersen, Area Logistics Manager Middle East at WSS. “Next, our ambition is not only to win the Best Partner – Middle East award, but to go for the Global Partner trophy as well.” WSS currently works with more than 2,800 independent freight forwarders in more than 600 cities and ports worldwide, enabling it to act as a truly global freight forwarder, and compete confidently with much larger multi-national logistics companies. More than 900 WCA members attended the WCA partner conference from March 4-11. WSS representatives from the Middle East, India, Norway and Pakistan participated in the event. “This is a great place to meet our peers for networking, build new business relationships and strengthening existing ties through more than 20,000 one-to-one meetings and practical workshops,” said Flemming.  

Barloworld Logistics Ramping Up Middle East Ops

Middle East contract logistics market to sustain 6.9 percent average growth to reach over USD 3.7 billion in 2015; Barloworld Logistics intensifies growth plans in Middle East, anchored on integrated smart supply chain solutions. Barloworld Logistics, a provider of logistics and supply chain management solutions, has announced that it is intensifying its growth plans in the Middle East as the region’s contract logistics services market expects to sustain a 6

AlMansoori Joint Venture with Key Energy

AlMansoori Petroleum Services, a subsidiary of AlMansoori Specialized Engineering, regional provider of oilfield services in the Middle East, has signed a joint venture agreement with American-based onshore energy production services company Key Energy Services. The joint venture will bring several new services to AlMansoori’s capabilities in coil tubing, workover rigs, pumping/cementing, fracturing and acidizing

Tanker Rates Strengthened Slightly In Middle East, Asia

Freight rates for Korea-bound VLCCs out of the Middle East joined those for Japan in hitting W50 by Sept. 3, brokers said. At least one fixture of W50 was reported for Korea, up from around W47.5 earlier in the week as the Middle East VLCC market strengthened. Some 70 vessels of around 21 million tons were potentially available in the area in the next month, but a shortage of modern tonnage for September liftings suggested rates could strengthen further

Mideast Oil Exports Needed To Pull VLCC Rates Up

A resumption in Middle East oil exports to the U.S. is required to drag VLCC tanker rates off the floor, shipping brokers said. A late start to seasonal westbound oil shipments from the Middle East is making tanker brokers ask when relief will arrive. VLCC tanker rates out of the Middle East have nose-dived again in the last two weeks due to a lack of activity, to around W42 east (around $4 per ton) and west (about $7.00 per ton).

Global Announces New Vice Presidents

Global Industries, Ltd. announced that it has appointed three to vice presidential positions. Eddie J. Evans has been named to the position of Vice President - Health and Safety. This new position reflects the importance Global places on safety in the workplace and its integral role in Global's success. Mr. Evans joined Global in January 1998 as Corporate Director of Safety responsible for all safety and health measures worldwide. He came to Global from J. Ray

Oil Goes Higher As Mid East Tension Mounts

U.S. oil markets stayed on high alert Friday as traders watched for signs of further escalation in the Middle East's political crisis and of possible impact on tight oil supplies. Rising regional violence pushed crude oil prices up three dollars on Thursday as fears of a cut in Middle East oil flows at a time played on concern that the U.S. is heading into winter with a big deficit in heating fuel. November crude on the New York Mercantile Exchange eased 56 cents to $35

Growth in Middle East Shipbuilding, Repair

While the world is in the grip of an economic slowdown, the Arabian Gulf remains a dynamic growth centre for ship building and repair, said a maritime industry observer. “The region is one of the busiest commercial maritime hubs with the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Qatar having major ports and shipyards with more being built,” said Christopher Hayman, Chairman of Seatrade, organisers of the region's premier event focused on workboats to be held in Abu Dhabi

Iraq a Gulf Shipping Concern

Iraq has become a key concern for Gulf shippers, the Middle East Newsline reported. Industry sources said maritime security marked a major element in Iraqi reconstruction. They said shippers have monitored the safety of Iraqi ports and water lanes for piracy, organized crime and insurgents. According to experts, oil exports currently provide Iraq with the life-blood of its reconstruction efforts, without which the country's ability to build and regenerate will be greatly hampered

Drydocks World Office in Abu Dhabi

Drydocks World, a ship repair, conversion and new building yard, announced the establishment of its representative office in Abu Dhabi. Hamed Mohammed Bin Lahej, - Drydocks World Executive Vice Chairman and Regional CEO for the Middle East, Asia and Africa, inaugurated the office.  He said, “The UAE capital offers great potential for our line of business. Setting up a representative office in Abu Dhabi will help address the increasing needs of the rapidly developing city and the