Saudi Arabia

Report to Congress on Saudi Arabia

The following is the June 18, 2019 Congressional Research Service Insight report, Saudi Arabia.

From the report

The kingdom of Saudi Arabia, ruled by the Al Saud family since its founding in 1932, wields significant global influence through its administration of the birthplace of the Islamic faith and by virtue of its large oil reserves. Saudi leaders’ domestic and foreign policy decisions are fueling calls from some U.S. leaders for a reassessment of long-standing bilateral ties. The Al Saud...

https://news.usni.org/2019/06/19/report-to-congress-on-saudi-arabia

Dammam terminal welcomes largest vessel yet

Dammam’s Saudi Global Ports (SGP) facility handled Cosco Shipping Solar, the largest container vessel ever to call anywhere in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, during its maiden call in May this year. The 400m long containership has a capacity in excess of 21,000 teu and is operated by Cosco as part of the Ocean Alliance’s Asia – Middle East Service. This service connects Dammam to key ports in the United Arab Emirates, Malaysia, Singapore and China.

The total volume carried on the maiden voyage...

https://www.themaritimestandard.com/dammam-terminal-welcomes-largest-vessel-yet/

Yanbu concession granted to Gulftainer subsidiary

Gulf Stevedoring Contracting Company (GSCCO), part of the Gulftainer group of companies, has entered into an agreement with Red Sea Marine Services Company Limited to manage and operate King Fahad Industrial Port in Yanbu (KFIP). This takes GSCCO’s portfolio of terminals in Saudi Arabia up to four.

GSCCO will handle a wide range of cargo types at KFIP, including containers, breakbulk cargo, vehicles and bulk goods. To support operations at the port, the company says it will invest in significant...

https://www.themaritimestandard.com/yanbu-concession-granted-to-gulftainer-subsidiary/

Russia joins pilot TradeLens blockchain project

The Russian Ministry of Transport signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with A.P. Moller – Maersk, launching TradeLens in Russia. The blockchain platform is expected to significantly facilitate international trade, not least by the inclusion of the Port of St. Petersburg, Russia’s main container gateway, as part of the pilot launch.

The MoU was signed between Maersk CEO Søren Skou and Mr. Yuriy Tsvetkov, Deputy Transport Minister and Head of Federal Maritime and River transport Agency.

The...

https://safety4sea.com/russia-joins-pilot-tradelens-blockchain-project/

Asia Oil Buyers, Shippers Go on Alert After Attacks on Saudi’s Oil Pumping Facilities

  • Armed drones attacked two of Saudi Aramco’s oil pumping stations and forced the state producer to briefly shut its East-West pipeline, known as Petroline.
  • The attacks pushed up global oil prices by more than 1% on Monday, adding to rising costs for Asian refiners, who are now paying the highest premiums.
  • Asia gets nearly 70 percent of its crude oil from the Middle East, and any disruption to oil production could have a severe impact on Asian economies.
  • Petroline is important because it is an...

http://mfame.guru/asia-oil-buyers-shippers-go-on-alert-after-attacks-on-saudis-oil-pumping-facilities/

Report to Congress on Current U.S.-Iran Tensions

The following is the May 16, 2019 Congressional Research Service report, U.S.-Iran Tensions Escalate.

From the report

U.S.-Iran tensions have escalated in recent weeks as the Trump Administration has taken several significant steps in its campaign of applying “maximum pressure” on Iran, and Iranian leaders have announced responses. U.S. steps have included designating Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO), reimposing sanctions on any country...

https://news.usni.org/2019/05/17/report-to-congress-on-current-u-s-iran-tensions

Two U.S. Warships Enter Persian Gulf Without Incident

File photos of USS Gonzalez (DDG-66) (top) and USS McFaul (DDG-74)

Two U.S. guided-missile destroyers entered the Persian Gulf on Thursday without incident as the likelihood of an armed confrontation between Iran and the U.S. appears less likely, a U.S. defense official told USNI News on Thursday.

USS McFaul (DDG-74) and USS Gonzalez (DDG-66) transited the Strait of Hormuz in the late afternoon local time without challenge from Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps Navy (IRGCN), the sectarian...

https://news.usni.org/2019/05/16/two-u-s-warships-enter-persian-gulf-without-incident

Spanish Frigate Drops Out of Lincoln Strike Group Over U.S. Iran Stance

Àlvaro de Bazàn-class frigate ESPS Méndez Núñez (F 104) prepares to conduct a replenishment-at-sea with the fast combat support ship USNS Arctic (T-AOE-8) and the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) on May 8, 2019. US Navy Photo

A Spanish guided-missile frigate is temporarily dropping out to the Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group over the U.S. shift in operations toward Iran, according to statements from Spanish defense officials.

ESPS Méndez Núñez (F 104) started...

https://news.usni.org/2019/05/14/spanish-frigate-drops-out-of-lincoln-strike-group-over-u-s-iran-stance

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