West Asia News

Ocean Network Express (ONE) has opened a West Asia Regional Headquarters in Dubai. The move aims to expand ONE's growth in the rapidly developing markets of the Indian Subcontinent, Middle East and East Africa.The West Asia Regional Headquarters office will serve as ONE’s central hub across the region, encompassing functions such as commercial activities, customer service, and digitization. It will also house a team dedicated to developing regional trade partnerships and exploring…

Container lines Ocean Network Express (ONE) is launching a new service covering Africa, India and the Middle East (AIM).The new product will broaden ONE’s already expansive global coverage by offering direct port calls between West Africa, South Africa and key locations in West Asia.The new service will offer market leading transit times between the West Asian ports of Jebel Ali, Mundra, Nhava Sheva and Colombo and African ports of Durban, Cape Town, Tema, Tincan and Apapa.The AIM Service, launched through a joint cooperation with Hapag-Lloyd, will commence from October 2019 with 9 ships of nominal 2,800 TEU. Hapag-Lloyd adds it as Middle East-India-Africa Express (MIAX)."With MIAX…

Western manufacturers are shying away from supplying equipment for an Iranian port that India is developing for fear the United States may reimpose sanctions on Tehran, Indian officials say, dealing a blow to New Delhi's strategic ambitions in the region. Lying on the Gulf of Oman along the approaches to the Straits of Hormuz, the port of Chabahar is central to India's hopes to crack open a transport corridor to Central Asia and Afghanistan that bypasses arch-rival Pakistan. India committed $500 million to speed development of the port after sanctions on Iran were lifted following a deal struck between major powers and Tehran to curb its nuclear programme in 2015.

Hyundai Merchant Marine (HMM) said it has signed an agreement with intra-Asia trade carriers Heung-A Shipping and Sinokor Merchant Marine to form a container shipping alliance called the HMM + K2 consortium. The HMM + K2 consortium, which is slated to start operation in March after a formal contract signing next month, will cover Japan, China and South East/West Asia trades. The alliance will include vessel sharing, slot exchange and slot purchase agreements, as well as additional plans to bring in joint investment in port infrastructure and sharing of container equipment in the medium and long term. Under the agreement, HMM will fully access Heung-A and Sinokor’s Intra Asia networks with particularly focus on the Korea-Japan and Korea-China trades.

Abu Dhabi Ports has signed a container terminal concession agreement with COSCO SHIPPING Ports Limited - Abu Dhabi (CSPL SPV), a wholly-owned subsidiary of container terminal operator COSCO SHIPPING Ports Limited, a subsidiary of China COSCO SHIPPING Corporation Limited. The event was held in the presence of His Excellency Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, the UAE Minister of State and Chairman of Abu Dhabi Ports, Zheng Chiping, Deputy Director of the foreign investment department of the National Development and Reform Commission of PRC and Wan Min…

Lloyd’s Register (LR), world’s leading engineering, technical and business services organization announced today that it has been appointed by LAUGFS Gas PLC (LAUGFS) to handle key safety and quality checks of the LPG terminal at Hambantota Port, some 240kms away from Sri Lanka’s capital city, Colombo. The contract is valued at GBP500,000. “A valued long-term business partner, LR has been meeting maritime needs of Sri Lanka since 1945. In 2015, we announced plans to build and operate a world class LPG terminal at Hambantota Port. After carefully evaluating different vendors’ proposals, we found LR’s benchmark assurance and advisory services to be a sound value proposition that had clear competitive advantages,” said Mr. W.K.H. Wegapitiya, Chairman of LAUGFS Holding.

Crude oil tanker market sentiment weakened in April as average spot freight rates dropped on most reported routes, OPEC said in its latest monthly report. On average, dirty tanker freight rates were down 8% from the month before. Despite a stronger market seen in the VLCC sector, average dirty spot freight rates declined, influenced by the declines in Suezmax and Aframax freight rates. VLCC spot freight rates showed improvements, rising by around 17% on all reported routes, as a result of an active market and strong tonnage demand. Suezmax and Aframax both closed the month down by 15% and 12%, respectively, as demand for both classes remained weak amid a persisting tonnage oversupply. Following the drop seen last month, OPEC spot fixtures dropped in April by 4.2%.

Today, NOL Group opened its new terminal at the Port of Qingdao with the arrival of the APL Dubai. Originally expected to open in the second half of 2011, the joint venture container terminal opened for business well ahead of schedule. NOL, together with SITC International Holdings Company Limited, a PRC-based shipping logistics company, formed a partnership with Qingdao Qianwan United Container Terminal Co., Ltd. (QQCTU) in May 2011 to operate the terminal. NOL said the terminal will primarily serve vessels operated by APL and SITC. The inaugural call at the terminal was made today by the APL Dubai, a 6,574-TEU vessel on APL’s West Asia Express service.

One of the oldest and most important marine archaeological finds of the late 20th century was unveiled to the public February 19, 2011, when the much-anticipated Shipwrecked: Tang Treasures and Monsoon Winds exhibition opens in Singapore, at the ArtScience Museum at Marina Bay Sands. The exhibition is jointly organized by the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery (Smithsonian), the Asian , ; the National Heritage Board (NHB), and the Singapore Tourism Board (STB). Shipwrecked relates the story of an astonishing cargo of some 60,000 objects carried from China by a ninth-century Arab dhow, presenting a dynamic tale of trade between China and West Asia along the maritime silk route. The cargo had lain undisturbed on the ocean floor for more than 1,000 years before its discovery near 's in 1998.

Neptune Orient Lines (NOL) Group President & CEO Ronald D. Widdows announced new senior management appointments to head the Group’s APL Logistics business unit and its South Asia Region organisation. Jim McAdam has been promoted and assumes the position of President, APL Logistics, the unit of the NOL Group that provides international supply chain capabilities for customers globally. He replaces Brian Lutt who recently left the Group to pursue other opportunities. McAdam is currently APL’s President South Asia Region and prior to that was President of the Asia/Middle East Region from 2006. From 2004 to 2006 he was NOL’s Senior Vice President, Business Solutions, responsible for developing and implementing supply chain solutions for some of the Group’s largest global customers.

APL is enhancing its Intra-Asia service offering with the introduction of a new Laem Chabang West Asia Express (LWX) service, starting on 5 April. APL is the first carrier to launch this direct service from Laem Chabang to Karachi. The service offers the fastest transit time from Thailand and Singapore to Karachi. In recent years, trade between Thailand and Pakistan, and the rest of the Middle East Gulf, has been robust. “APL continues to lead the market with this latest service offering. The new LWX service is driven by the strong growth potential of emerging markets like Thailand, Pakistan and the Middle East, particularly in consumer electronic goods,” said Jason Wong, APL’s Vice President, Intra-Asia, Middle East & Australia Trade.

Malaysian cruise operator Star Cruises Plc has positioned a 100-passenger vessel in Dubai in efforts to cover West Asia, company officials said. "The coverage of West Asia reinforces Star as the leading cruise line in Asia-Pacific after having ships positioned in North, East and South East Asia," Star chairman K.T. Lim said. The MegaStar Capricorn will be positioned year-round in Dubai and will make 200 calls a year at the port. Lim said the company's Dubai office will also bring first-time cruisers from the Middle East to cruise with Star in the Asia-Pacific region. Star has a fleet of 20 ships and more than 21,000 lower berths, following its acquisition of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings earlier this year…

Shipyard workers at Northrop Grumman Ship Systems' (NGSS) Avondale Operations laid the keel for the future USS Anchorage (LPD 23) during a brief ceremony Sept. 24 at the shipyard in the New Orleans area. Anchorage is the seventh ship of the San Antonio class of amphibious transport dock ships to begin construction. The future USS Anchorage will play a vital role in Navy and Marine Corps expeditionary warfare by embarking, transporting and landing elements of an assault landing force by helicopters, vertical take-off and landing aircraft, air cushion landing craft and Expeditionary Fighting Vehicles. In 2004, then-Secretary of the Navy Gordon R. England named LPD 23 in honor of the city of Anchorage, Alaska. This is the second U.S.

Dolphin Offshore Enterprises (India) Ltd. signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with NaftoGaz, to work together on Engineering Procurement Installation and Commissioning (EPC) contracts related to the installation and commissioning of offshore platforms, pipelines, Single Point Mooring (SPM), etc. The scope of the MoU also includes revamp/ modification projects related to existing infrastructure as well. As per the terms of the MoU, Dolphin Offshore and NaftoGaz will jointly bid for engineering and construction (E&C) projects in India and the West Asia. Notwithstanding the above, existing relationships of Dolphin Offshore with Indian and other international EPC contractors shall remain unaffected.

West Asia Maritime Limited (WAM) has signed an MoU of $33.52M deal with Mitsui & Co, Japan for taking a IHIMU, Japan built geared 56,120 DWT Bulk Carrier under Bareboat Charter with purchase option. The new vessel, which is to be delivered in 1st Quarter 2008, is chartered for 12.5 years and will be trading worldwide for the movement of dry bulk cargoes. This is the first time that an Indian shipping company has taken this route to control with an option to acquire ships. Under the proposed deal, WAM would be getting the vessel for a long period with minimal investment and also have purchase option. WAM can now buy the asset at any time during the charter period at a pre-determined price.

According to reports, Chennai-based shipping company West Asia Maritime Limited has signed an MOU with Japanese shipbuilding major Mitsui for constructing a huge cargo vessel on contract for 12 years, with an option of purchasing it at a pre-determined price during the contract period. The $33.2 million dollar ship would be delivered in the first quarter of 2008. The 56,120 DWT bulk carrier would be used by his company for moving bulk cargo. Source: newKerala.com

According to reports, Chennai-based shipping company, West Asia Maritime Ltd. (WAM), has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for taking a bulk carrier from Mitsui & Co. of Japan under bareboat charter for $33.527 million. Under the bareboat charter, a vessel charterer has complete possession and control of the ship, including the right to its crew. IHIMU of Japan will build the 56,120 dead weight tonnage (dwt) bulk carrier vessel. The new vessel, which is to be delivered in the first quarter of 2008, has been chartered for more than 12 years and six months and will be trading worldwide for the movement of dry bulk cargoes. Addressing a press conference here on Monday…

North America. Coast and North Europe via the Panama Canal starting in February 2006. ships, of which CP Ships will contribute two. February 2006. US Gulf and East Coasts and North Europe also via the Panama Canal. containers. North Europe via the Suez Canal. CMA CGM two.

CP Ships Limited welcomed into service the first of nine 4250 teu containerships ordered two years ago. commercial activities in India. in Nhava Sheva. when it is delivered in January 2006. third sister ship in this service during second quarter 2006. overall," commented Juan Manuel Gonzalez, Executive Vice President Commercial. Seaspan Container Lines. currently under construction at Samsung Heavy Industries in Korea. schedule for delivery between first quarter 2006 and second quarter 2007. 21 by second quarter 2007.