Houthis Seize 'Hostile' Vessel off Yemen; Saudis Claim Ship Carried Med Equipment
The Iran-aligned Houthi movement that controls most of northern Yemen hijacked a United Arab Emirates-flagged cargo vessel engaged in "hostile acts" but which the Saudis said was carrying hospital equipment.The ship was heading to the Saudi port of Jizan, just north of Yemen, from the Yemeni Red Sea island of Socotra when it was attacked just before midnight on Sunday, Saudi state news agency SPA reported, quoting coalition spokesman Brigadier General Turki al-Malki.Saudi Arabia…
Environmental Protection Notation for Saudi Aramco's Offshore Vessel Fleet
Saudi oil giant Saudi Aramco plans to achieve the ABS ENVIRO notation for its 23-strong fleet of offshore support vessels, tugs, self-elevating units, and special purpose vessels.The notation identifies the level of compliance with international environmental protection requirements and integrates further ABS environmental protection requirements, ABS, one of the world's largest maritime classification companies said.The notation, together with the enhanced ENVIRO+ notation, was developed with the objective of promoting an environmentally focused design…
Saudi-led Coalition Destroys Explosive-laden Drone, Boat Launched by Yemen's Houthis
The Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen intercepted and destroyed an explosive-laden drone at Saudi Arabia's Abha international airport and a remotely controlled explosive-laden boat in the south of the Red Sea both launched by Iran-aligned Houthis on Sunday, Saudi state news agency (SPA) reported.As a result of intercepting the drone, some splinters fell on the airport, causing no injuries or damage, coalition spokesman Colonel Turki al-Malki said, according to SPA.Air traffic at the airport was proceeding as normal, state-run Al Ekhbariya TV said, citing its reporter.Al-Malki said the expl
Bahri Orders Ten Chemical Tankers from Hyundai for $410M
Saudi Arabia's national shipping company Bahri has ordered ten 49,999-dwt Medium Range (MR) chemical tankers from Hyundai Mipo Dockyard, part of South Korea's Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI).Bahri said the order, signed at a virtual ceremony, was valued $410 million, meaning $41 million per vessel. The first deliveries are expected in the first quarter of 2022.Seung-Yong Park, Chief Operating Officer and Senior Executive Vice President of HHI, said the latest order would bring the tally of various types of vessels that HHI has built for Bahri to 61.In May 2020…
U.S. Sends First Crude Shipment to Saudi Arabia in Years
The United States sent a shipment of crude to Saudi Arabia in June, data from the U.S. Census Bureau showed on Wednesday, in what appears to be the first such delivery since the U.S. ban on crude exports ended in 2015.The United States shipped about 550,000 barrels, or 18,300 barrels per day (bpd), of crude to Saudi Arabia in June, U.S. Census data shows. The U.S. Energy Information Administration has no recorded instances of a U.S. crude shipment to Saudi Arabia.U.S. Census data shows a miniscule 1,000-barrel shipment to Saudi Arabia in 2002.
OPEC, Russia Approve Biggest-Ever Oil Cut to Support Prices
OPEC and allies led by Russia agreed on Sunday to a record cut in output to prop up oil prices amid the coronavirus pandemic in an unprecedented deal with fellow oil nations, including the United States, that could curb global oil supply by 20%. Measures to slow the spread of the coronavirus have destroyed demand for fuel and driven down oil prices, straining budgets of oil producers and hammering the U.S. shale industry, which is more vulnerable to low prices due to its higher costs.
