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. NSCSA, 28.8 percent held by the Saudi government, said earlier it had bought four very large crude carriers (VLCCs) from Hellespont Shipping Corp for $330 million.