Gulf Navigation Holding, a top operator of crude and chemical tankers, has entered into strategic alliances with Dubai-based oil and gas company Mena Energy

The alliances for mutual co-operation in ship acquisition, chartering and commercial management aim to set out a platform for the parties to have an enhanced commercial relationship and to further strengthen their existing business ties, reported WAM, the Emirates official news agency.

 The parties have agreed that Gulf Navigation would acquire vessels that would be time-chartered to Mena Energy for carrying Crude and the petroleum products.

It is intended that Gulf Navigation will acquire or order new builds up to 12 vessels ranging between 50,000mt dwt and 120,000mt dwt.

Khamis Juma Buamim, board member, managing director and Group CEO of Gulf Navigation, said: "We are truly proud of this strategic alliance and we are delighted to take another step forward in GulfNav’s strategic business expansion process and to have deepened GulfNav’s existing strong collaboration with Mena Energy which would add value and prove advantageous to both parties."

Rashid Al Ghurair, CEO of Mena Energy, said: "With this alliance we will be able to strengthen our existing fleet of tanker and support our growing oil trading activity. This brings us closer to our vision of being a leader in middle eastern energy trading.''