
ADNOC Logistics & Services (L&S), the maritime arm of ADNOC, has acquired a further Ultramax bulk carrier, the 64,000dwt Al Karama, following the acquisition of two carriers of this same type earlier this year. It will immediately be deployed on key ADNOC L&S trading routes, including the transport of sulphur from facilities in Ruwais, Abu Dhabi, to global customers.
Al Karama joins Al Dhafra and Al Wathba, which were built in 2019 in Japan, as part of the ADNOC L&S Ultramax dry bulk fleet. Speaking at this year’s virtual Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (ADIPEC), Abdulkareem Al Masabi, Chief Executive Officer of ADNOC L&S said: “The addition of these modern bulk carriers to our fleet is a key milestone in the delivery our growth plans. The vessels will increase ADNOC L&S’ regional presence and will enable allow us to explore more cargo options outside the UAE market. As we continue to invest in our shipping fleet to service our global network of customers, we remain focused on delivering a safer and smarter growth strategy in shipping, driving growth opportunities and creating value for ADNOC, Abu Dhabi and the UAE.”
The new Ultramax bulk carriers feature economically efficient engines and smart speed management technology, allowing the vessels to operate at very low engine speeds resulting in a marked decrease in fuel consumption and lower emissions.
The Ghantout, a smaller 23,000dwt bulk carrier, has also recently joined the ADNOC L&S fleet. This vessel will be used to transport calcined petcoke from ADNOC’s Ruwais terminal to Jebel Ali and Khalifa Port in the UAE, supporting a long-term supply contract between ADNOC and Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA), which was signed in 2019.