Milaha + NOC ink 10-year agreement for jack-up barge: Qatar Navigation’s (Milaha) subsidiary Halul Offshore Service Company has signed a QAR 792 mn (c. USD 217.6 mn) 10-year charter with Iraq’s North Oil Company to operate Milaha Al Shaheen, Qatar’s first flagship jack-up barge, according to a press release. The Milaha Al Shaheen will be instrumental in future offshore projects, supporting Milaha’s long-term goal of positioning Qatar as a major contender in the global maritime sector, the statement said.
The specs: Milaha Al Shaheen is a four-legged jack-up barge designed to support a wide range of offshore operations in tandem with the highest environmental sustainability standards. The barge has a 104-meter leg length and is equipped with a 300-ton crane.
Milaha has been doubling down on partnerships: The Saudi Port Authority (Mawani) and DP World Mundra recently added Milaha Gulf Express 2 by Milaha to boost their connectivity with ports. The shipping service will help Mawani connect King Abdul Aziz Port in Dammam with seven regional and international ports, while it will help boost India’s connectivity with routes along several ports, including Shanghai, Ningbo, Shekou, Nhava Sheva, Mundra, Sohar, Hamad, and Dammam. Milaha added a new shipping service — Milaha Gulf Express (MGX) — back in May that connects three Chinese ports in Shanghai, Ningbo, and Shekou with the UAE’s Jebel Ali. The outfit also inked a five-year agreement with Qatar Steel back in July to provide logistics services at Mesaieed Industrial City to boost the import and export of Qatar Steel-manufactured products.