Al Arab News

Capsized in a river in southern Iraq, the rusting wreck of a yacht that belonged to Saddam Hussein serves as a stark reminder of his iron-fisted rule that ended with the U.S.-led invasion two decades ago.The 121-metre (396 ft) "al-Mansur", a symbol of Saddam's wealth and power when it was built in the 1980s, is today a destination for sightseers and fisherman who clamber aboard the wreck to picnic and drink tea."When it was owned by the former president, no one could come close to it…

Iran and Iraq have agreed to solve the issue of dredging of Arvand River (Shatt al-Arab) in Iranian southwestern city of Khorramshahr in Khouzestan.Based on the agreement reached, it was decided to establish a temporary technical committee with the aim of providing the preconditions for joint dredging of Arvand River, said Fars News Agency."It is expected that more technical meetings with Iran and Iraq experts will be held for dredging operations at Arvand river in the upcoming ten days," said Alireza Khojasteh, Director General for Maritime Safety & Marine Environment Protection Ports and Maritime Organization of Iran.The Task Force will conduct technical studies on Arvand dredging by holding regular meetings every two weeks and present its proposals to the Joint Meeting.

The passenger Shipping line has been resumed between Iran and Iraq through Shatt al-Arab-Arvand (Arvand River) after a three-year hiatus, the state-run media reported quoting Iraqi Ministry of Transport.IRNA said that the resumption of traffic in the line was marked by an Iraqi sea transportation company transporting 46 passengers to Iranian port city of Khorramshahr.The report quoted Iraqi Transport Minister Kadhim Finjan saying that Iraq is ready to launch and resume sea transportation inside and outside the country.Head of Iraq's Public Sea Transportation Company Abdol Karim al-Jaberi announced that said that the company is equipped with advanced boats which are capable of taking long and short distance trips.Along with many other advantages…

Following the announcement of the joint venture agreement by Bahri, a global leader in transportation and logistics, and Koninklijke Bunge, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bunge Limited, a global agribusiness and food company, the two companies recently inaugurated the offices of BahriBunge Dry Bulk Ltd. in Dubai, UAE. In celebration of the occasion and reveal of the new company’s logo, Mr. Abdulrahman M. Al-Mofadhi, Chairman of Bahri hosted a special ceremony at Burj Al Arab in the presence of several Bahri board members, top industry high-level executives, representatives from Bunge, heads of Bahri’s business units, in addition to a number of officials representing major multinational companies.

Hong Kong-based port operator Hutchison Ports has agreed to partner with NAWAH Port Management (NPM) to manage existing and future operations at the Port of Basra in southern Iraq. Hutchison Ports will assume oversight of day-to-day commercial and operational activities at NPM, operating under the name of Hutchison Ports Basra. NPM is a containerized terminal operator at the Port of Basra located along the Shatt Al Arab waterway in Iraq. The company services the shipping needs for a full spectrum of customers across Iraq – from large, multinational companies to local Iraqi merchants. NPM’s proximity to the city center and major oilfields, and its operations are viewed as key competitive advantages versus other ports in the region.

Multiple amphibious, multifunction dredges from Mud Cat are operating in Iraq to clean various dams and barrages that are positioned along the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. Iraq’s Ministry of Water Resources (MWR) purchased the MFDs to remove accumulated silt, sand and vegetation at each dam’s basin. By performing regular dam maintenance, Iraq’s MWR can maintain the designed water levels at the dams to prevent structural components from being compromised. Originating in eastern Turkey, the Tigris River measures approximately 1,150 miles long through Iraq and flows in a southeasterly direction.

Drydocks World, a provider of maritime and offshore services to the shipping, oil, gas and energy sectors, received Tatweej Academy’s Award for Excellence at the 7th Tatweej Arab Business Leaders and Leading Organizations, for being one of the pioneering institutions in the Arab World on quality of performance and achievements, leadership. The Awards were organized under the patronage of HE Eng. Sultan Bin Saeed Al Mansoori, Minister of Economy, UAE, presented at a Gala Awards Ceremony on February 18, 2014 at the Burj Al Arab, Dubai, UAE in the presence of policy and decision-makers such as Ministers, Governors, Chairmen, Presidents, C-level Officers, Managing Directors, bankers, investors, high-ranked prominent officials and business leaders.

North America Western Asia Holdings (NAWAH) agrees to modernize Maqal Port, located in Basra’s urban center on the Shatt al Arab waterway. The formal agreement is between Iraq’s Ministry of Transportation, the General Company for the Ports of Iraq, and NAWAH. As part of the agreement, the American company will invest more than $14 million to bring both heavy-lift crane and container handling capabilities to the 93-year-old port. NAWAH will also build a modern container yard adjacent to the port’s berth 14. The company’s agreement with GCPI will extend 10 years. “The speed at which Iraq can rebuild and become prosperous is greatly dependent upon the capacity of its ports,” said Paul Brinkley, NAWAH’s president and CEO.

Dubai Ferry’s new October 2012 route, connects the cruise terminal at Port Rashid with Al Ghubaiba station in Bur Dubai. The new route is part of the Roads and Transport Authority’s (RTA) efforts to upgrade the marine transport services. According to RTA, the 100-seater ferries, which until now served on two routes — from Al Ghubaiba to Burj Al Arab and back, from Dubai Marina to Atlantis and back — have grown in popularity since their launch in March last year. The sleek looking boats can travel at a maximum speed of 24 knots and have restrooms, kiosks for selling souvenirs and snacks as well as four LCD screens to provide entertainment facilities on board.

BMT Group Ltd, the international design, engineering and risk management consultancy, announced today that it has achieved strong financial results, despite a difficult year for the global economy and the maritime industry in particular. A turnover of £142m provided the group with an underlying operating profit of £11m in the year to 30 September 2010, £5.8m of which has been distributed to the staff through the company’s profit share schemes. Comprising 23 subsidiary companies…

1882- The watch at Station No. 13, Second District, Massachusetts, reported at about 4 p.m., the collision of two schooners, two and a half miles east southeast of the station. Launching the surfboat, the crew proceeded to the vessels. The smaller vessel, the British schooner Dart, was boarded first. She was out from Saint John, NB and bound for New York with a cargo of lumber and a crew of four persons. The vessel was badly damaged, having her bowsprit, jib boom, and headgear carried away. The life-saving crew at once set to work. They cleared away the wreck and weighed her anchor, which had been let go in the collision. By this time, the steamer Hercules, of Philadelphia had come alongside and Dart’s master arranged for a tow to Vineyard Haven.

Iraq's recovery depends on oil revenues, and the Khawr Abd Amaya Oil Terminal, better known here as KAAOT and the nearby larger Al Basra Oil Terminal (ABOT), are the platforms upon which Iraq's economy depends. Nearly all of Iraq's revenue comes from crude oil, and nearly all of it leaves the country here. These two crude oil transfer terminals in the Northern Arabian Gulf or 'NAG' can accommodate large tankers carrying Iraq's crude oil output that is pumped to the oil platforms (known as OPLATS) by pipeline from Basra.

Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates commemorated a historic date in U.S. Navy history -- Pearl Harbor Day -- at U.S. Naval Forces Central Command headquarters. He got a detailed briefing about the command's operations and how they're helping to maintain security and keep the sea lanes flowing. Vice Adm. Kevin J. Cosgriff, commander of NAVCENT Combined Maritime Forces and U.S. 5th Fleet, briefed the secretary on the command's operations, which cover 2.5 million square miles of international waters in U.S. Central Command's area of operations. Each day, more than 10,000 vessels transit the territory, which includes about 80 percent of the global energy reserves. About 45 percent of the world's oil passes through the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

Iraq is reportedly planning to buy small oil tankers, ships small enough to enable them to navigate through terminals on the Gulf and the Shat al-Arab Waterway, according to a report on www.azzaman.com. The report indicated that the Iraqi Tanker Company will invite foreign firms to take part in tenders to build the tankers. (Source: www.azzaman.com)

Coast Guard cutters Boutwell, a 378-ft. high endurance cutter homeported in Alameda, Calif., and Walnut, a 225-ft. buoy tender homeported in Honolulu, began heading home today after completing their missions in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. Both cutters conducted a wide range of missions while serving in the Gulf, including maritime force protection, coastal and terminal security, and maritime interception and marine environmental response. "Without question, the skill and dedication of the crews of Walnut and Boutwell were instrumental to the overall success of our naval forces and underscored the importance of the Navy-Coast Guard team," said Vice Adm. Tim Keating, the commander of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command.