Vela International Marine Ltd. Tuesday announced the appointment of Captain Assem Ashary, the first Saudi national to serve as captain aboard a Vela tanker. Captain Ashary was set to take command of the M/V Altair Star here Tuesday at Jeddah Port, according to a report carried today by Saudi Aramco's web-site. "We are proud that Captain Ashary has made his career with us at Vela," said Captain Bader Ghouth, Vela's Manager of Operations. "Attaining command of a modern supertanker is the apex of honor in today's maritime industry." In December 2006, Vela won the Sea Trade Dubai International Maritime Award for its cadet training program, and Ashary's appointment represents Vela's success at the other end of the development spectrum.