Maritime Industry Briefing: Bahri Orders OSVs at Grandweld, El Niño Threatens Global Shipping Disruption

## Bahri Commissions Pair of Offshore Support Vessels at Grandweld Bahri Logistics, a subsidiary of Saudi Arabian national shipowner Bahri, has signed a newbuild agreement with UAE-based Grandweld Shipyard for the construction of two advanced offshore service vessels, according to Splash247. The vessels will be custom-built to meet the specific operational demands of offshore activities at Ras Tanura Port — one of the world's busiest energy export terminals, located on Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province coastline. The contract underscores Bahri's continued investment in expanding its offshore logistics capabilities in support of Saudi Arabia's upstream energy sector, which remains central to the Kingdom's economic output. Grandweld Shipyard, headquartered in Dubai, has established a strong regional reputation for constructing specialised workboats and offshore support vessels tailored to Gulf operations. The partnership reflects growing demand for purpose-built OSVs capable of servicing the complex infrastructure requirements of major offshore energy hubs across the Arabian Gulf. No financial terms or delivery timeline were disclosed at the time of reporting. --- ## El Niño Poses Systemic Risk to Global Shipping, TT Club Warns The prospect of a 'super El Niño' weather event could generate cascading disruptions across freight, energy, and global supply chains, according to a warning issued by international freight insurer TT Club, as reported by Seatrade Maritime. TT Club highlighted the Panama Canal as a particular vulnerability, noting that reduced rainfall associated with El Niño conditions can critically lower Gatun Lake water levels — directly constraining vessel draft restrictions and transit capacity through the waterway. The Canal has already demonstrated its susceptibility to such pressures in recent years, with drought-related restrictions in 2023-2024 forcing significant rerouting of container and bulk carrier traffic. Beyond the Canal, TT Club cautioned that a severe El Niño cycle could simultaneously drive energy price volatility, disrupt agricultural commodity flows, and introduce delays across supplier networks — compounding the systemic risks facing an already complex global logistics environment. The insurer's warning serves as a timely reminder for shipowners, charterers, and cargo interests to review contingency planning and insurance coverage ahead of any potential weather-driven market disruption. Analysts have noted that the interaction of climate variability with increasingly concentrated shipping chokepoints represents one of the more significant structural risks facing the industry in the near term. --- *Sources: Splash247, Seatrade Maritime*