Oil Transportation Industry News

National Shipping Company of Saudi Arabia (Bahri) has taken delivery of Khurais, a very large crude carrier (VLCC), from Korean Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries (HSHI). Industry leader adds fourth VLCC this year, bringing its total number of vessels to 92,further enhancing its market-leading capabilities in crude oil transportation. The new addition is the fourth of five VLCCs to be received this year from South Korea-based Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries (HSHI), the world’s largest shipbuilding company. ‘Khurais’ was delivered at a ceremony held at HSHI’s Mokpo shipyard in South Jeolla Province, South Korea, on 10 April 2018. Capable of transporting two million barrels of crude oil…

In 1951, under the leadership of Capt. Fred’s son, Morton S. Bouchard Sr., (A.K.A. “Buster” Bouchard), the company builds three 20,000 barrel oil barges and three accompanying tugboats, which ran the New York State Barge Canal. The construction of these vessels would then, in the years that followed, lead to Buster’s position as a prominent figure within the oil transportation industry. The July 2018 edition of Maritime Reporter & Engineering News will feature a special “Bouchard Transportation Co. Celebrates 100 Years” magazine.

The National Shipping Company of Saudi Arabia (Bahri) received a very large crude carrier (VLCC) named “Lawhah” on Thursday, the company said. "Continuing its strong start to 2018, Bahri accepted the delivery of ‘Lawhah to further cement its market-dominant position in crude oil transportation," said a press release. The vessel, which lifts the total number of the company’s multipurpose fleet to 90, is the second of five VLCCs to be received this year from Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries (HSHI), the world’s largest shipbuilding company based in South Korea. Bahri took the delivery of Lawhah at a ceremony held at the HSHI’s Mokpo shipyard in South Jeolla Province, South Korea, on February 1, 2018.

Last month, I had the opportunity to testify before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation at a hearing that examined maritime regulations. In what must have been a change of pace for Subcommittee members, instead of detailing the regulatory burdens facing the tugboat, towboat and barge industry, I urged them to exercise their oversight responsibility to ensure expeditious publication of long-awaited U.S. Coast Guard regulations regarding towing vessel inspection.

MarineNews spoke with Jennifer Carpenter, Senior Vice President of National Advocacy for the American Waterways Operators (AWO), about the organization’s strategic plan, how it is going about increasing public awareness for the industry and what you can do to help. What is AWO 21? AWO 21 is AWO’s strategic plan, approved by our Board of Directors in October 2009, which lays out our vision, mission, values, goals, and objectives. In other words, it describes why AWO is here, what AWO members care about, and how we’re going to spend our time and our money as a trade association.

When Olympic Tug & Barge was founded in 1987, owner Harley Franco had environmental responsibility on his mind. Early major oil tanker disasters southeast of Nantucket, Mass., near Galveston, Texas, and off the coasts of England and Mexico were influencing the future of the oil transportation industry. So Franco committed himself to growing his business by assembling a "fleet of the future" built around the most environmentally friendly technology he could afford. Today, parent company Harley Marine Services oversees a combined fleet of more than 40 vessels. Olympic Tug & Barge began as a vessel bunkering operation, leasing a tugboat and barge to transport the bunker barges from ship to ship.