Mena News

Several shipping companies and a few liquefied natural gas (LNG) tankers have decided to avoid the world's main East-West trade route, following attacks launched by Yemen's Houthi group on commercial ships at the southern end of the Red Sea.The attacks raised the specter of another bout of disruption to international commerce following the upheaval of the COVID pandemic, and prompted a U.S.-led international force to patrol waters near Yemen.IS THE RED SEA ROUTE IMPORTANT FOR…

A Liberian-flagged oil tanker set sail in May from Russia's Ust-Luga port carrying crude on behalf of a little-known trading company based in Hong Kong. Before the ship had even reached its destination in India, the cargo changed hands.The new owner of the 100,000 tonnes of Urals crude carried on the Leopard I was a similarly low-profile outfit, Guron Trading, also based in Hong Kong, according to two trading sources.The number of little-known trading firms relied on by Moscow to export large volumes of crude exports to Asia has mushroomed in recent months…

AD Ports Group's subsidiary SAFEEN has acquired a support vessel to boost the company's subsea service capabilities.Built in 2014, the vessel, previously known as the Nordic Prince, will operate under the name ‘SAFEEN Surveyor’ and will undergo an extensive conversion prior to starting operations, including the installation of an integrated dive system to support pipeline repair and maintenance."The vessel has a successful track record in projects in the Middle East, where it has provided a range of support services including subsea inspection…

International Maritime Industries (IMI), the largest shipyard in the MENA region, has expanded its partnership with Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) through a technical service agreement to further enhance its shipbuilding capabilities.Under the agreement, HHI will provide technical assistance and consulting services in Very Large Crude Oil Carrier (VLCC) engineering to IMI, reflecting its commitment to supporting the development of IMI’s shipbuilding capabilities and engineering services since its launch in 2017.The agreement was signed by Dr.

Marine fuel sales at the United Arab Emirates' Fujairah, third largest bunkering hub in the world, fell to a four-month low in June as high bunker premiums and tight supplies capped uptake.Total bunker sales volumes were down 13% month-on-month at 647,184 cubic meters (about 619,602 tonnes) in June, based on latest data from the Fujairah Oil Industry Zone published by industry information service S&P Global Commodity Insights."Fujairah barges have been trading above Singapore since mid-June.

International Maritime Industries (IMI), which describes itself as the largest shipyard in the MENA region, and offshore construction firm Lamprell on Tuesday announced the successful completion of the load-out and float-off of the first jackup drilling unit being constructed for IMI.The jack-up rig will now undergo intensive mechanical completion and commissioning before being transferred to IMI’s yard in Ras Al Khair, Saudi Arabia, for final commissioning before going on a contract…

AD Ports Group's feeder service, SAFEEN Feeders, has signed a long-term trade facilitation and shipping agreement with Saif Powertec Limited, a listed firm in Bangladesh that is active in ports, logistics, civil engineering, and power sectors.Under the terms of the agreement, the two companies will collaborate to facilitate trade and cargo services from Fujairah to Bangladesh over a period of 15 years. As part of the collaboration, SAFEEN Feeders is expected to provide eight Supramax bulk carriers with 55…

International Maritime Industries (IMI), which describes itself as the largest maritime yard in the MENA region, has signed a Joint Venture Agreement with Zamil Offshore to deliver Offshore Support Vessel (OSV) building and maintenance, repair, and overhaul services (MRO) in Saudi Arabia."The long-term agreement signed with Zamil, one of the Middle East’s largest shipyards and owners, operating a fleet of over 60 diversified vessels in Saudi Arabia, aims to enhance IMI’s localization efforts in the Kingdom and boost its lifecycle support services…

The Arab Petroleum Investments Corporation (APICORP), an energy-focused multilateral development financial institution, and the National Bank of Fujairah (NBF) signed a five-year $108 million debt finance facility with Hartree Maritime Partners, LLC (HMP), the shipping affiliate of Hartree Partners, a global energy and commodities firm, with the aim to help boost maritime sustainability.The facility, in which APICORP acted as the Mandated Arranger and Facility Agent, will be utilized to finance HMP’s purchase of two eco-friendly very large crude carriers (VLCC).

The Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation (PCFC), in cooperation with Dubai Maritime City Authority (DMCA), have launched the Marine Agency to oversee wooden dhow ships and regulate all their activities while they’re in Dubai waters. The agency is an organizational unit managed by PCFC and works according to regulations in coordination with the competent government authorities. The move is part of PCFC’s constant efforts to strengthen Dubai’s trade environment and maintain…

Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri and United Arab Emirates electronic firm Marakeb Technologies, have agreed to form a global partnership in the field of autonomous technology.The agreement was signed by Basel Shuhaiber, Chief Executive Officer of Marakeb Technologies, and Giuseppe Giordo, General Manager of Fincantieri Naval Business at the 2020 Unmanned Systems Exhibition and Conference in Abu Dhabi.The agreement is intended to initiate a cross-evaluation of Fincantieri’s current automation solutions and Marakeb Technologies’ patented unmanned technology, as well as to jointly develop applications on various vessel types in Fincantieri’s portfolio.The global partnership aspires to establish future commercial opportunities in regional and international markets…

Saudi Arabia’s International Maritime Industries (IMI) has signed a vessel purchase agreement (VPA) with the National Shipping Company of Saudi Arabia (Bahri) and a subsequent sub-contract agreement with South Korean shipbuilder Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) to build one very large crude carrier (VLCC).Hyundai Heavy will transfer architectural designs and related technological know-how for the building of very large crude carriers (VLCCs) to IMI. It will build one 319,000 DWT Class Crude Oil Carrier  with delivery expected in October 2021."This project award further strengthens the business relationship between IMI and its shareholders…

Revenue of Topaz Energy and Marine of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for the six-month period of 2019 was $235 million, an increase of 56% compared to H1 2018.Dubai-based offshore vessel operator’s first-half net income also surged to $42 million from a $4m loss recorded at the end of first six months of 2018.Earnings before interest taxes, depreciation and amortization rose by 83 percent to $141m in the first half.The global ports operator DP World acquired Topaz from Oman's Renaissance Services and Standard Chartered's private equity arm for an enterprise value of $1.08 billion (Dh3.96bn) in July.“DP World recognizes the success we have achieved and wants us to continue to deliver that going forward.

National Energy Services Reunited (NESR), a provider of integrated energy services in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) and Asia Pacific regions, has been awarded contracts worth US$660 million by Saudi Aramco for coiled tubing, stimulation and cementing services for a five year period.The contract is with the National Petroleum Technology Company, a subsidiary of NESR, for coiled tubing and N2, stimulation services and cementing services for a period of five years with possible extensions of up to two years.Mohammed Y. Al-Qahtani, senior vice president for upstream, Saudi Aramco, said: “NESR is a key partner for Saudi Aramco, and we are very pleased to see National Petroleum Technology Company…

The world will need less energy from the 2030s onwards, but it will still require a significant amount of oil and gas in the lead-up to mid-century according to DNV GL’s 2018 Energy Transition Outlook, an independent forecast of the world energy mix in the lead-up to 2050.The report says, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region will remain the main global supplier of oil and gas for decades to come."Among its forecasts for 10 global regions, DNV GL’s Outlook sees the MENA region accounting for most onshore conventional gas production in the lead-up to 2050, while North America will continue to dominate unconventional gas production.

Apex International Energy announced that affiliates of Blue Water Energy (BWE) have agreed to partner with Apex and join the existing investors: Warburg Pincus LLC, International Finance Corporation (IFC) and company management.The oil and gas exploration and production company focused on Egypt and other Middle Eastern and North African countries (MENA) said that it is primarily focused on pursuing acquisitions and drilling opportunities in MENA, with an initial focus on Egypt.The company will continue to acquire assets and licenses, whilst driving value creation through the execution of production optimization opportunities, developments and exploration opportunities of scale.Blue Water Energy…

UAE-based Gulf Marine Services (GMS), a provider of self-propelled self-elevating support vessels (SESVs) serving the offshore oil, gas and renewable energy sectors, said it secured a new contract for one of its Small Class vessels.The new charter is for 12 months (including options) and is scheduled to commence shortly. The vessel will be supporting well intervention activities for a national oil company (NOC) in the MENA region.Duncan Anderson, Chief Executive Officer of GMS, said:  "This new award, which follows last month's announcement of three long-term contracts, is further evidence of a continuing market recovery. The sustained higher oil price is having a positive impact in our sector…

Vessels provider to the oil & gas industry Gulf Marine Services (GMS) said that it was awarded three long-term contracts in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.The provider of advanced self-propelled self-elevating support vessels said in a press release that the new charters, which are subject to the completion of legal documentation and finalisation of the vessel delivery schedule, are for one Small Class and two Mid-Size Class SESVs and are currently expected to commence in Q4 2018/Q1 2019. The charter period for each of the three vessels is five years (including options) during which time they will be supporting well intervention and maintenance activities in the region.Duncan Anderson…

Egypt's Suez Canal revenue for the first 10 months of the 2017-18 fiscal year ending in June rose to around $5.1 billion, state news agency MENA quoted Finance Minister Amr El Garhy as saying on Sunday.Garhy did not provide a comparative figure but said he expected revenue for the entire 2017-18 fiscal year to reach about $5.6 billion, a 14 percent rise from the previous year, according to MENA.Egypt's Suez Canal earned $4.95 billion in revenue during the 2016-17 fiscal year, according to central bank data.Egypt has said previously an $8 billion army-led expansion of the canal completed in 201

Two shipping companies based in Egypt and Singapore will pay $1.9 million in penalties after pleading guilty in federal court to violating the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships (APPS) and obstruction of justice for covering up the illegal dumping of oil-contaminated bilge water and garbage into the sea. Defendants Egyptian Tanker Company and Thome Ship Management are the owner and operator of the offending vessel, the 57,920 gross ton, 809-foot long, oceangoing, oil tank ship called the M/T ETC Mena. The plea agreement was announced by Acting Assistant Attorney General Jeffrey H. Wood for the Department of Justice Environment and Natural Resources Division and Acting U.S. Attorney Brit Featherston for the Eastern District of Texas.

Saudi Aramco, Dussur – the Saudi Arabian Industrial Investments Company, and Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) announced a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to jointly collaborate on engines and pumps business development in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The MOU lays out an engine and pump business cooperation framework, through the formation of a joint venture (JV) to manufacture two-stroke engines, four-stroke engines and marine pumps; including sales and aftersales services in the MENA region. The manufacturing facility will be co-located with the maritime yard in Ras Al-Khair, at the King Salman International Complex for Maritime Industries and services, where it will develop synergies with several complementary ventures.

Gulftainer, the largest privately owned independent port operator, has marked the maiden call of the CMA CGM Virginia vessel with a capacity of 5,095 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU) at its flagship Khorfakkan Container Terminal (KCT). The vessel call was completed in a record 5.6 hours, approximately 8.4 hours ahead of schedule. CMA CGM, a leading worldwide shipping group, currently operates a diversified fleet of 445 vessels with a combined capacity of over two million TEU. The company has deployed the 294-metre-long vessel on its newly launched INDIAMED service that links the strategic zones of the East Mediterranean with Djibouti, Arabian Gulf, Pakistan and India.

The Ocean Alliance has launched its new Day Two Product with an estimated 3.6 million TEU carrying capacity provided by approximately 340 containerships deployed on 41 services. The new offering will commence in April 2018. Alliance partners CMA CGM, COSCO, Evergreen and OOCL will offer 20 Transpacific services, six Asia-Europe services, four Asia-Mediterranean services, four Transatlantic services, five Asia-Middle East services and two Asia-Red Sea services. “Ocean Alliance has been a fantastic success from a customer perspective since its launch last spring and we are very enthusiastic to announce our Day Two Product,” said Olivier Nivoix, Senior Vice President Ocean Alliance Lines.