Memory Lane
Memory Lane: From Ras Tanura Marine landmarks to expanding training centers to business abroad
In 1977, Aramco completed work on its Dhahran Industrial Training Complex to advance the education and training of young Saudis.
Here are some of the top headlines from the Arabian Sun (and Flare) over the decades.
RAS TANURA MARINE RECORD
The Marine Terminal at Ras Tanura during the month of March handled 151 ships, and this is an all-time high records.
Tankers sailing under British, Panamanian, and Liberian flags, tankers from the low countries, Scandanavia, France, West Germany, Spain, Portugal, Turkey, Pakistan, India, and Japan make the Persian Gulf run to the Ras Tanura refinery seeking the crude oil and refined products vital to the defense of the free world. These types of vessels range from those about 50 years old to the modern takers of around 30,000 tons capacity.
ALL IN A DAY'S WORK
Sea Island 2, shown above, is in operation loading 650,000 barrels of crude and products to the second ship to be handled at this facility -- Olympic Freedom -- which is bound for Japan. Sea Island Two, Ras Tanura's newest marine terminal loading facility is capable of handling up to 150,000 DWT, and has a loading capacity of 650,000 barrels per day. In view is the control center, mooring and breasting dolphins, tower crane, and the Chiksan arms, which are connected to the ships loading manifold. This facility is also equipped with a bunker system to supply ships' bunkers.
NEW DHAHRAN TRAINING COMPLEX TO SERVE 1,500 SAUDI STUDENTS
The new Dhahran Training Complex, built to meet Aramco's expanding need to train Saudis, will officially open on April 27. Invited guests will tour the modern training facility from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Located on the al-Khobar-Abqaiq Road directly across from the Dhahran North Office Complex, the picturesque hillside training facility features six new buildings. Two spacious ITC (Industrial Training Center) buildings contain 60 classrooms for instruction in English, mathematics, science, and commercial subjects.
The three ITS (Industrial Training Shop) buildings encompass 28 shops. Each of these 1,500-square-foot shops is fully equipped for training in a specific industrial skill such as welding, electronics, instruments, machinery maintenance, and air conditioning/refrigeration. The entire complex has an optimum capacity of about 1,500 industrial trainees.
H.E. AL-NAIMI, JUM'AH INAUGURATE PETRON'S NEW MARKETING IMAGE
Festive ceremonies April 24 launching a colorful new corporate marketing symbol for Petron Corporation in the Philippines were highlighted by official inaugural acts by H.E. Ali I. Al-Naimi, Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, and Abdall S. Jum'ah, Saudi Aramco president and chief executive officer.
Also attending were numerous senior Saudi Aramco executives and members of the Philippine and Saudi diplomatic and government corps.
The debut of the new signage, a dramatic expression of Petron's distinctive "P" logo underscored by the corporate name, focused the day-long series of celebrations on a new marketing image by the company. Petron is a joint venture partnership owned by Saudi Aramco and the Philippine National Oil Company (PNOC), each with equal 40 percent shares, and 20 percent owned by private stockholders.
AL-MUAJJIZ TERMINAL RE-OPENED
Shortly after midnight on March 21, Saudi Aramco safely began Fuel Oil (F.O.) Ship-to-Ship (STS) transfer/storage operations at Al-Muajjiz Terminal in Yanbu'.
The terminal facility was mothballed in 1990, and this was the first berthing at the facility since partial de-mothballing took place. The terminal will be used for F.O. STS lightening operations. These operations will now provide essential services by meeting high domestic demand for F.O. in the Western Region.