Hellespont Names First of Four Double-Hull Ulccs
Piraeus-based Hellespont Shipping Corporation will name the first of its series of four unique double-hull ulccs at a ceremony in Dubai on April 3, 2002. The 442,000 dwt vessel will be named Hellespont Alhambra. Basil Papachristidis, chairman of the Hellespont Group, says, "We are proud to set new standards with these ships. The Hellespont Alhambra is the largest double hull tanker ever built. She sets new benchmarks for safety, longevity, commercial flexibility and ease of maintenance. The series will continue with the Hellespont Metropolis, to be delivered in April, and two sister ships, the Hellespont Fairfax and the Hellespont Tara, both to be delivered in the second half of 2002.
NSCSA Reports $31M Profit
The National Shipping Company of Saudi Arabia (NSCSA) reported a net profit of 115.7 million riyals ($30.85 million) in the first half of 2001 compared with a net loss of 16.8 million riyals a year earlier. Riyadh-based NSCSA also said in a statement that it would take delivery of four recently bought vessels by October 2002, raising its fleet to nine ships used to transport Saudi Arabian crude to the international market. "NSCSA and Hellespont Shipping Corporation are pleased to announce the purchase by NSCSA from Hellespont for $330 million of four double hull very large crude carriers," the Riyadh-based company said in a statement. Hellespont at Samsung Heavy Industry of South Korea and would be delivered betweenOctober 2001 and October 2002.
