Gulf Cooperation Council News

Gulf Arab states did not ask the U.S. to go to war with Iran, but many are now urging it not to stop short by leaving the Islamic Republic still able to threaten the Gulf’s oil lifeline and the economies that depend on it, three Gulf sources told Reuters.At the same time, these sources and five Western and Arab diplomats said Washington was pressing Gulf states to join the U.S.-Israeli war. According to three of them, President Donald Trump wants to show regional backing for the campaign…

Lloyd’s Register (LR) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Jinan Shipyard, a Qatar Free-Zone-based shipbuilding company, to collaborate on the development, classification, inspection, and certification of marine vessels including yachts and tugs.This strategic partnership marks a step forward in enhancing shipbuilding capabilities across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region. The MOU outlines a shared commitment to promoting safety, quality, and innovation in maritime construction and repair…

Qatar Gas Transport Co is currently the top Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) company in monetary terms, with a live and on-order fleet value of $11.9 billion, reports Rebecca Galanopoulos of Veson Nautical.Based on VesselsValue data, the fleet consists of 36 live LNG and LPG vessels with a further 30 on order. Qatar Gas also placed the highest value newbuilding order in February 2024 with their investment in 15 large LNG vessels, scheduled to be built at Samsung and contracted for…

Pakistan is conducting its ninth AMAN naval exercise and dialogue from February 7-11, 2025, with participants from 50 countries. The aim of AMAN is to promote regional cooperation and stability, greater interoperability and to display a united resolve against terrorism and crimes in the maritime domain, including piracy.The AMAN exercise highlights Pakistan’s naval diplomacy efforts by bringing together naval forces from Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), NATO and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) countries.

Oman's state-owned logistics firm Asyad Group is planning an initial public offering (IPO) of its subsidiary Asyad Shipping Co by the end of the year and has selected Jefferies Group and EFG Hermes as advisers, sources familiar with the matter said.Asyad Group, EFG Hermes and Jefferies declined to comment when contacted by Reuters on Thursday about the IPO plans.

Elcome International LLC signed an exclusive sales and service agreement with Miros AS, the Norway-headquartered wave, current and oil spill monitoring specialist.The partnership expands the distribution of Miros’ comprehensive range of sea state sensor and measurement solutions to Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, namely UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Qatar.Miros’ portfolio of sea state measurement solutions provides accurate, real-time data for weather-sensitive operations at sea, as well as offering input to asset integrity systems and coastal monitoring.

Abu Dhabi Ports’ maritime arm SAFEEN has signed an agreement with offshore vessel owner Allianz Marine & Logistics Services (AMLS), to launch a new international provider of integrated maritime logistic services."Operating under the title of Offshore Support and Logistics Services Company (OFCO – Offshore International), headquartered in Abu Dhabi, the new joint venture will be one of the largest, most capable, and cost-efficient providers of onshore and offshore integrated logistics solutions and subsea services in the GCC [Gulf Cooperation Counci] Gulf Cooperation Council region and beyond," Abu Dhabi Ports said in a statement.According to the statement released Thursday…

Oil producer Saudi Aramco has selected Chelsea Technologies Group (CTG), designer and manufacturer of sensors for the maritime sector, to provide benchmark testing for compliance with ballast water standards. This follows Saudi Aramco’s announcement that all ships calling at its ports and terminals will be required to provide ballast water samples, in order to demonstrate compliance with the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Ballast Water Management Convention (BWM Convention).

Qatar and container lines have launched new shipping services via Oman in an effort to sidestep a port ban in neighbouring countries and secure a food lifeline after other Gulf states severed ties with Doha last week. Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and some other Arab countries cut diplomatic, travel and trade ties with Qatar last week, accusing it of supporting Iran and funding Islamist groups, accusations Doha denies. The severing of air, sea and land transport links has closed crucial import routes for Qatar and its population of around 2.7 million people who are dependent on imports for most of their food needs. China's COSCO Shipping Lines Co Ltd, Taiwan's Evergreen and Hong Kong Kong's OOCL have suspended container services to and from Qatar.

Crest Offshore Marine (COM), the wholly owned subsidiary of Pacific Radiance, has entered into a Joint Venture (JV) Agreement  with Allianz Offshore Middle East (AOME). According to JV agreement, both companies are jointly incorporating a company in Singapore known as Allianz Radiance (ARPL). ARPL has been incorporated on the same date. AOME is a company incorporated in Saint Vincent and The Grenadines. Under the terms of the JV Agreement, COM and AOME respectively will hold 51% and 49% equity interest in ARPL, making ARPL as indirect subsidiary of the Company. ARPL shall be principally engaged in owning, managing, chartering and leasing offshore support vessels particularly in the Gulf Cooperation Council and Egypt offshore oil and gas segment.

HE Minister of Transport and Communications Jassim Saif Ahmed Al Sulaiti, Chairman of Qatar Ports Management Company (Mwani Qatar) and Sheikh Ali bin Jassim bin Mohammad Al-Thani, Chairman of Qatar Navigation (Milaha), today witnessed the signing of an agreement between Mwani Qatar and Milaha to establish a new company, QTerminals, to manage Hamad Port. As per the agreement, the new company will be co-owned by Mwani Qatar; 51%, and Milaha; 49%, and will manage operations at Hamad Port as an independent company with its own board of directors, executives and staff. The deal was signed by Mwani Qatar CEO Captain Abdulla Al Khanji and Milaha President & CEO Abdulrahman Essa Al-Mannai.

Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and the United States have agreed to carry out joint patrols to stop any Iranian arms shipments reaching Yemen, the bloc's secretary general, Abdullatif al-Zayani, said on Wednesday.   Zayani was speaking at a news conference with U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter after a meeting between Carter and his counterparts from the GCC, which includes Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Oman.   Iran denies accusations by Gulf states that it is smuggling weapons to Yemen, where GCC countries are involved in a military campaign against the Tehran-allied Houthi movement.     (Reporting by Sami Aboudi and Yeganeh Torbati, Writing by Angus McDowall, Editing by William Maclean)

Kelvin Hughes is to supply its SharpEye S-band radar together with its new 12kW radar for 17 patrol boats currently being built at ARES Shipyard, Turkey for Qatar’s Coast and Borders Security Department. All the electronic equipment for the vessels - which include 24m, 34.5m and 48m versions of the ARES Shipyard Hercules series - will be supplied by Elektro Deniz of Turkey which has contracted Kelvin Hughes to provide the radar systems. The SharpEye S-band will be used for surface search and the 12kW radar for navigation.

The U.S. military will work with Gulf and European partners to ensure the strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait at the tip of the Red Sea remains open to commerce despite fighting and instability in Yemen, the head of U.S. forces in the region said on Thursday.   "We would work in conjunction with our GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) partners to ensure that those straits remain open," U.S. Army General Lloyd Austin told a Senate hearing.   "It is one of our core interests to ensure that we have free flow of commerce through both straits," he added, referring to Bab el-Mandeb and the Strait of Hormuz.     (Reporting by David Alexander; Editing by Susan Heavey)

The six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) state members have agreed to set up a joint maritime security force and enhance cooperation in naval operations in response to increasing regional maritime conflict, according to reports in local media. A joint naval exercise would begin in the UAE on Monday and run until Thursday as a first step towards a unified command system to be used in emergencies, a GCC statement said. The exercise would help raise the level of GCC’s preparedness, combat efficiency and cooperation. Saudi Arabia is participating in the GCC exercise with a number of naval units, boats, special naval security units and Super Puma aircraft.

Abu Dhabi Ship Building Company will deliver three Baynunah warships to the United Arab Emirates Navy by 2016 and is in discussions with other buyers to sell more, its chief executive said on Monday. "There are discussions with some of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries as well as other international ones. Hopefully there will be something in the future," Khaled al-Mazrouei said on the sidelines of the Naval Defence Conference. The fall in oil prices has put pressure on government spending across the Gulf region.

Gulf of Oman port bids to become transhipment centre for region; to more than double container capacity by 2017. Part of Oman's drive is to industrialise, diversify beyond oil. An advertisement by the highway outside Dubai's massive Jebel Ali Port tells firms they don't need to ship goods through the Strait of Hormuz, the traditional gateway to the Gulf. Instead they can have goods delivered to a port in Oman, outside the Gulf, and bring them into the region by road. "Why go through the Strait when you can go straight to the Gulf," the billboard reads, in a challenge to Jebel Ali, which has become one of the biggest ports in the world by handling many of the region's imports via Hormuz.

The drop in global oil prices should not affect the spending plans of oil-producing countries in the Middle East in the near-term given their large financial reserves, the head of the IMF's Middle East and Central Asia Department said on Friday. The official, Masood Ahmed, told reporters that every oil producer in the region outside of the Gulf Cooperation Council and Bahrain were running fiscal deficits, and that the drop in prices would push those budget gaps even wider. However, he said their sizable financial reserves would allow those countries to continue with their spending plans in the short-term, although the price drop has raised a longer-term issue. (Reporting by Anna Yukhananov; Editing by Tim Ahmann and Paul Simao)

DNV GL is launching a new Recommended Practice (RP) on LNG Bunkering in the Middle East & South Asia. The launch in Doha is in conjunction with Qatar’s announcement that it is going to establish a strategy of supplying LNG as a marine fuel in Qatar and the other countries forming the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). “Qatar’s entry as a provider of LNG for the marine industry will be a game-changer given that it is the largest single exporter of LNG globally. Concurrently launching the RP will  ensure bunkering operations are predictable…

DNV GL says it is launching a new Recommended Practice (RP) on LNG Bunkering in the Middle East & South Asia. The launch in Doha is in conjunction with Qatar’s announcement that it is going to establish a strategy of supplying LNG as a marine fuel in Qatar and the other countries forming the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). “Qatar’s entry as a provider of LNG for the marine industry will be a game-changer given that it is the largest single exporter of LNG globally. Concurrently launching the RP will ensure bunkering operations are predictable, safe and compatible in Qatar, across the Middle East and the rest of the world,” says Shahrin Osman, DNV GL Regional Manager Maritime Advisory Middle East & India.

Fendercare Marine Middle East celebrate the official opening of their new regional Head Office in Sharjah with an official event to celebrate at The Address, Dubai Mall before the invited guests – including customers, local dignitaries and staff from the Fendercare Marine global locations - were transported to the new base. After the official opening ceremony, conducted by Fendercare Marine Managing Director Eric Plane, the attendees were given a tour of the premises including the extensive new warehouse facilities.

Fendercare Marine Middle East announces opening of new regional head office in Sharjah to strategically support its ever growing clientele. Fendercare Marine Middle East announced the opening of their brand new, purpose built premises at Emirates Industrial City Sajaa, Plot No 146/16, PO Box 25896, Sharjah, UAE. Their new permanent premises will enable the company to offer an even wider range of products and services to both their existing and new clients. Since 2000, Fendercare…

Building patrol boats is big business, especially for foreign defense needs. U.S. yards compete on a global stage in the all-important maritime security workboat arena. Patrol boats have continued to enhance bottom lines at many U.S. vessel builders this year through sales that are usually government directed or assisted. Budget cuts are a concern, but the sector’s federal funding remains high. Patrol boats are sold to other nations under the U.S. Foreign Military Sales or FMS program, authorized by the Arms Export Control Act to provide defense items.