RIYADH, 18 October 2005 — The National Shipping Company of Saudi Arabia (NSCSA) said yesterday its nine-month net profits rose 27 percent to SR348 million ($93 million) from a year ago. Operating income rose 11 percent to SR408 million. A fall in revenue from shipping crude oil was compensated by a sharp rise in income from petrochemical shipments, the company said in a statement on the official Saudi stock market website. Earnings per share rose to SR8.74 from SR6.86. NSCSA owns nine double-hulled very large crude carriers with a capacity of 2.1 million barrels each. It also owns 14 petrochemical carriers and has 10 more on order for delivery from the end of 2005.