Sadra News

More than half of the 22 oil tankers in Venezuela's fleet are so run down that they should be immediately repaired or taken out of service, according to an internal report from state-run oil company PDVSA that was shared exclusively with Reuters. The report by PDVSA's maritime branch, entitled "Critical deficiencies and risks of PDV Marina's tanker fleet," said years of deferred maintenance had left the entire fleet with "low levels of reliability," at risk of spills, sinking, fires, collisions or flooding.

Venezuela will contract with an Iranian shipyard to build two oil tankers under an existing construction agreement bedeviled by payment delays and difficulties with needed certifications, according to people familiar with the matter and documents.Venezuela’s state-run energy firm PDVSA since last year has redoubled efforts to buy and lease oil tankers to rebuild its own fleet. Its maritime operations have suffered from a long-standing lack of capital and U.S. sanctions that have…

A tanker built by an Iranian shipyard for Venezuela plans to depart next month from the Middle Eastern country with a cargo of fuel components for the gasoline-thirsty nation, three sources with knowledge of the deal told Reuters.The new vessel is the latest sign of the growing energy collaboration between the two nations under U.S. sanctions. Iran and Venezuela are increasingly swapping crude for diluents and for fuel the South American country desperately needs due to the poor condition of its refining network.The deals have given a boost to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro…

An agreement to build oil tankers in Iran for Venezuela has been left in limbo years after it was announced as Western sanctions plus disagreements over payments and delivery terms took their toll, sources familiar with the matter say. The deal was heralded in 2006 with much fanfare by Tehran and the socialist government of then-president Hugo Chavez to build four oil tankers in Iran on behalf of Venezuela's state oil company PDVSA as part of a wider global order for 42 ships. According to sources and backed up by shipping data, the Iranian order was never completed. A former adviser to PDVSA's maritime subsidiary involved in the deal said the imposition of tougher sanctions in 2012…

The first Iran-built Aframax oil tanker ship is complete and the vessel will be ready soon for delivery to Venezuela. The 113,000 dwt vessel has been built by Iran Marine Industrial Company, an affiliate of Sadra group of companies, and is  250 meters long, 44 meters wide, 21 meters high, with a service speed of 16 knots according to the FARS News Agency. The Aframax oil tanker was worth 52 million Euros and the builder considers it to be the first of its kind built in the Middle East. 

Despite the western embargos, Iran's maritime and shipbuilding industries have made huge progress in recent years says the agency. Source: FARS News Agency

ClassNK maintains an office in Tehran and provides certification for two Iranian radio firms that service Iranian shipping companies. In a July 12, 2012 letter to ClassNK Chairman and President Noboru Ueda, UANI CEO, Ambassador Mark D. By providing services to these companies, ClassNK is directly facilitating the operations of Iran’s shipping sector, an action that enables the Iranian government to circumvent multilateral sanctions that have been imposed to prevent it from further developing its illegal nuclear weapons program. The argument that ClassNK does not directly service Iranian vessels is without merit. The certification services provided by ClassNK to Arya Azhand Darya and Persia Hormoz Shipyard…

Iran said its needs up to 34 new oil tankers to refurbish and expand its ageing fleet. Iran currently owns or has placed orders for a total of 36 tankers, said Mohammad Souri, head of the state-owned National Iranian Tanker Company (NITC). "After taking delivery of our new tankers, the total number of our tankers will reach 36. To transfer all our export crude with our own ships, we will need to have 60 to 70," he said. Souri said Iran had placed orders for 10 new tankers from China and South Korea to double its fleet's capacity to six million tons. He did not name the shipbuilders involved. Iran plans to order up to eight liquefied natural gas (LNG) tankers when production begins at its South Pars field in the Gulf, he said.

"A plan of Rickmers four multipurpose heavy lift vessels on order from the SADRA Shipyard in Busheher. Rickmers-Linie, the Hamburg based global breakbulk, heavy lift and project specialist, has ordered four multipurpose heavy lift vessels from the SADRA Shipyard in Busheher. They are scheduled for delivery between July 2007 and July 2008. The newbuildings have been purpose-designed for the carriage of breakbulk, heavy lift and project cargo. With a deadweight of 24,000 tonnes, an overall length of 175m and a beam of 26.5m, they will be fitted with variable height tweendecks for maximum cargo flexibility. Indivisible heavy lift cargoes will be handled by two 350 tonne cranes that will have the facility to be twinned for handling loads of up to 700 tonnes.

Petróleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) announced that Venezuela and Iran have agreed to explore setting up a joint shipbuilding operation. The preliminary agreement looks towards jointly building oil tankers, liquid natural gas tankers and other vessels. It would also train Venezuelans in shipbuilding technology. The deal was signed in Caracas between PDVSA and Sadra Iran Marine Industrial Company. Ties between the two oil-producing countries have become closer as Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez has sought to build international alliances to counter US economic and political dominance. The moves come as the Bush administration has clashed with Iran over its nuclear program.

The contract to build four ships for Germany is awarded to Sadra of Iran, according to a report on www.mehrnews.ir. Total value of the project is $120m and the first ship will be seaborne in 30 months. The ships are ordered by north German-based Rickmers Shipping Lines and have a cargo capacity of 25,000 tons each. They would be used for freight transport from Europe to other destinations worldwide.

Venezuela and Iran have agreed to explore setting up a joint shipbuilding operation in the South American country, according to AP reports. The preliminary agreement envisions jointly building oil tankers, liquid natural gas tankers and other vessels, and training Venezuelans in shipbuilding technology. The deal was signed in Caracas between PDVSA and Sadra Iran Marine Industrial Company, according to the report. Ties between the two oil-producing countries have tightened as President Hugo Chávez has sought to build international alliances to counter U.S. economic and political dominance. Venezuela and Iran are both members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and have consistently backed efforts to bolster prices by controlling production volumes. Source: AP

Reports have indicated that Venezuela and Iran have agreed to explore setting up a joint shipbuilding operation in the South American country, state-run Petróleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) said. The preliminary agreement signed last week envisions jointly building oil tankers, liquid natural gas tankers and other vessels, and training Venezuelans in shipbuilding technology. The deal was signed last week in Caracas between PDVSA and Sadra Iran Marine Industrial Company, PDVSA said Friday. Ties between the two oil-producing countries have tightened as President Hugo Chávez has sought to build international alliances to counter U.S. economic and political dominance. Chávez, a self-defined socialist revolutionary, frequently accuses the U.S. government of wanting to overthrow him.

Reuters has reported that Iranian shipbuilder SADRA said it would build 10 ships for Belgium's Exmar to export Iranian liquefied natural gas (LNG) although Iran's efforts to produce the fuel are deadlocked. The total value of the 10 high-technology vessels would be $2.4b, Iran's Industry Minister Alireza Tahmasbi told state television. He told the ISNA students news agency that SADRA might sign a another deal for four more ships. High-value energy deals with Iran put companies at risk from U.S. sanctions. Washington accuses Iran of seeking nuclear arms, a charge Tehran denies. Iran has lacked the investment and technology to develop its reserves for export.

According to the Mena Report, Iran's shipbuilding company Sadra Group will build four cargo ships, worth 100 million euros, for the north German-based Rickmers shipping lines, it was reported on Saturday. The newbuildings have been purpose-designed for the carriage of breakbulk, heavy lift and project cargo. With a deadweight of 24,000 tonnes, an overall length of 175m and a beam of 26.5m, they will be fitted with variable height tweendecks for maximum cargo flexibility. Indivisible heavy lift cargoes will be handled by two 350-tonne cranes that will have the facility to be twinned for handling loads of up to 700 tonnes. The ships are to be used for freight transport from Europe and the US to the Middle East as well as to Pakistan and India.

China has expressed its strong interest in having a widespread presence in investment projects in Iran, of which, a shipbuilding complex contract in Qeshm Free Trade Zone (QFTZ) will soon reach the final agreement, a member of ICCIM?s (Iran's Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Mines) Board of Directors Daneshmand announced on Wednesday. The Chinese, in general, follow the policy of investing in an economic climate of cheap energy and skilled workforce in mineral and mining sectors of countries like Iran. The construction of this multibillion dollar complex in addition to existing Sadra and Persian Gulf shipbuilding companies would offer Iran the opportunity to import modern technology at almost no cost, he concluded. Source MEHRNEWS.COM