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Dubai conference to focus on piracy

Sun, 29 Apr 2012 14:54:54 GMT

The second public-private international counter piracy conference will be held in Dubai in June, aimed at advancing coordination to counter the growing threat of maritime piracy.

Foreign ministers and senior government officials from more than 50 countries as well as CEOs of leading global companies in maritime related industries are being invited for the two-day event on June 27 and 28.

The conference, being organised in a partnership between the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and global ports operator DP World, will be entitled ‘A Regional Response to Maritime Piracy: Enhancing Public-Private Partnerships and Strengthening Global Engagement’.

This UAE driven conference aims to build up on achievements of last year’s UAE-hosted forum, which saw over 700 delegates representing more than 65 governments, international organisations and more than 120 representatives of the global maritime industry come together in Dubai to share experiences and develop coordinated international initiatives to face the challenges of maritime piracy.

The conference signalled a transformative moment in the maritime sector’s engagement with the international community on counter-piracy, as a number of maritime companies donated funds to the United Nations’ Trust Fund for initiatives to counter piracy off the coast of Somalia, said a statement.

The conference achieved a unanimous agreement of a strong and substantive Conference Declaration that covered a range of counter-piracy issues, and has since served as a benchmark for regional piracy policies, it said.

Piracy’s devastating human and financial costs continue with 13 vessels hijacked and 197 seafarers held in captivity in the first three months of this year. Hundreds of families are being victimised by this growing threat; annual financial cost to global trade is estimated at $12 billion a year, according to the International Maritime Bureau.

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs, said: ‘’The UAE believes that maritime piracy, notably in the Gulf of Aden and the western Indian Ocean, remains of serious global concern. Pirate activity off the coast of Somalia continues to plague our region. Attacks by pirates endanger the lives of hundreds of seafarers, just as they undermine the prosperity and livelihoods of Somalia, its immediate neighbourhood, and the world.

“This is the second time that the UAE is inviting foreign ministers, industry leaders and international experts to meet together in Dubai, and to coordinate our international response. We are doing so because we continue to believe that an enhanced counter piracy response can be achieved through greater regional and international engagement on this issue of global concern,” he said.

Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, chairman, DP World, said: “Once more, we are proud to help facilitate this important dialogue. We are very much aware that the private sector continues to be directly impacted by the threat of piracy; hence we wish to reiterate our endeavour in collaborating closely with the respective governments and the international community in this regard. Piracy is indeed a growing destabilizing factor that needs to be combated, not only to help facilitate the safe flow of trade across nations but also to provide a safe working environment for seafarers and peace of mind for their families.

“We are of the view that collaboration through public-private partnership will go a long way to facilitating preventive measures as well as long term solutions to the problem.” – TradeArabia News Service

DP World wins top CSR award

Sun, 29 Apr 2012 14:54:54 GMT

DP World has been named the winner of the prestigious Golden Peacock Award for corporate social responsibility for 2012 for its work in India, where it operates five marine terminals.

The annual award, instituted in India in 1991 to encourage corporate responsibility initiatives promoting sustainable development, was presented at an award ceremony in Dubai in recognition of DP World’s efforts to integrate responsible business practices into its operations in India.

It is the second time that the company has won the award.

The factors cited by the award jury in its decision were the company’s responsiveness to the needs of different stakeholders, and its ability to develop innovative partnership models to fulfill social responsibilities tailored to the welfare of the communities where it operates, a statement from DP World said.

Kathryn Wightman-Beaven, head of global corporate responsibility, DP World, received the award on behalf of Anil Singh, senior vice president and managing director, Subcontinent Region. It was presented by the chairman of the Dubai economic Council, Juma Al Majid.

The awards ceremony which took place yesterday (April 25) was held at the Awards Gala Nite.

The ceremony, held during the Dubai Global Convention, incorporating the 7th International Conference on Social Responsibility, was attended by a distinguished gathering of business leaders, jurists, academics, environmentalists, economists, legislators and policy makers.

“Contributing to the social and economic welfare of our port communities around the globe, and our continuous focus on environmental sustainability, safety and vocational training are some of our core values, and an integral part of who we are and what we do,” Singh said.

“The challenge is to develop an approach that has trust and integrity, and successfully manages the social, environmental and political risks in a manner that is embedded within organisational structures,” Wightman-Beaven said.

In 2011, DP World Nhava Sheva, Mumbai, won the Golden Peacock Environment Management Award, instituted by the World Environment Foundation, for its environmental initiatives such as the “Hari Kranti” (Green Progress) campaign to plant 20,000 bamboo saplings in Ransai village of Uran District in Maharashtra state.

DP World also won the CSR award at the Lloyd's List Global Awards 2011 in London. – TradeArabia News Service

Emirates unit sees big Global Village success

Sun, 29 Apr 2012 14:54:54 GMT

Transguard Group, an Emirates Group company, wrapped up a successful season at Dubai’s Global Village, where it was responsible for logistical movements and secure handling of a record Dh213 million ($58 million) banknotes over a five-month period.

The 151-day event, which is also the largest outdoor family entertainment venue in the region, kicked off on November 1, 2011 and closed at the end of March this year, with retail sales topping a staggering Dh1.5 billion.

To ensure shoppers had easy access to their cash, Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank (ADIB) installed a total of 10 ATM machines around the site, located at key national pavilions including the UAE, Saudi, Malaysia, Syria, Vietnam, Iran, Pakistan, Africa, India and Turkey.

'With five million visitors recorded at Global Village during the 2011/12 season, the logistics involved in ensuring that the ADIB cash machines remained stocked and in full working order required precise planning and careful execution,' said Simon Cooper, the general manager, Cash Services at Transguard.

'Fortunately we have an abundance of experience in this area, Transguard currently manages the transportation and logistics for the majority of cash in circulation in the UAE,' he added.

According to ADIB, cash availability ran at 100 per cent during the entire five months, without a single ‘cash out’, ensuring that Global Village consumers and retailers from the 28 country pavilions were able to make the most of the international retail experience.

The ATM located adjacent to the UAE pavilion saw the highest amount of customer withdrawals, issuing a whopping Dh36.2 million - followed by Saudi Arabia (Dh32.7 million), Turkey (Dh30.2 million) and India (Dh25.3 million).

“Contracts with major entertainment and retail destinations such as Global Village give us the opportunity to demonstrate Transguard’s unrivalled experience in successfully handling logistics for the secure movement and management of millions of dirhams, and working with the ADIB team has been both seamless and efficient,” said Imran Khan, ATM operations manager at Transguard Cash.

As an integrated Facilities management company, Transguard was also responsible for the cleaning of Global Village, allocating a total of 145 staff every day over 150 days, a total of 174,000 man hours, said a company statement.

The cleaning team emptied 420 rubbish bins, three times daily during the event and also had to clean up after the sandstorms Global Village experienced this season, being called into action on five separate occasions to clear sand and debris deposited by the storms throughout the site, it added.-TradeArabia News Service

Cavotec to take part in Jeddah aviation expo

Sun, 29 Apr 2012 14:54:53 GMT

Cavotec, a global engineering group, will participate as an exhibitor and presenter at a major airports, aviation & logistics exhibition set to be held next month in Jeddah.

The inaugural Kingdom Airports, Aviation and Logistics Exhibition (KAALE 2012) will be held from May 1 and 2 at the Centre for Events and Forums.

“We are very excited about this event as it offers us the opportunity to further develop our presence in Saudi Arabia where we have worked and are also pursuing several large projects.” said Juergen Strommer – managing director for Cavotec Middle East and India.

“Adding to our experience from working with the Ministry of Finance Hangar projects in Riyadh and Jeddah, our expectations for Saudi Arabia are high; this conference has important Regional significance for the Cavotec Group and will enable us to provide additional information to our customers and potential customers about our capabilities.”

The Saudi government has plans to overhaul existing transportation infrastructure which is likely to see over $100 billion of investments flowing into the large-scale airports, seaports, rail, road and logistics projects in the next decade, with over $30 billion allocated for the purpose in the government’s next five year plan.

All of these sectors are complimentary to the market sectors which Cavotec Group serves, a statement said.

Cavotec develops integrated systems for airports around the world that help drive operational efficiency, reduce tarmac congestion and improve local air quality. Cavotec’s Airports market unit is made up of Cavotec Dabico, Cavotec Meyerinck, Cavotec Fladung and Cavotec INET. – TradeArabia News Service

Riyadh public transport designs completed

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 06:18:00 GMT

The High Authority for the Development of Riyadh (HADR) has completed the engineering designs, technical specifications and blueprints for the two public transport projects using buses and electric trains, a report said.

A 17 km-long rail network on King Abdullah Road, starting from King Khaled Road on the west to Khaled bin Al-Waleed street to the east, and including 11 stations, will form the first phase of the project, the Bloomberg report added.

The network would also run on the axis of Al-Olaya-Al-Batha Street with a length of 25km, connecting the northern and southern ring roads. This phase will also build a road network for buses covering the entire city, the report said.

The bus network will be constructed on four levels, and will consist of a nucleus network for high-capacity buses, circular networks to provide transport around the downtown area by medium-capacity buses, according to the report.

A secondary network is planned to service medium to low capacity vehicles and a local network will provide public transport on the cluster of roads of the various districts, the report added.

Emirates SkyCargo to service Vietnam

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 06:17:59 GMT

Emirates SkyCargo, the freight division of Emirates, will launch operations between Dubai and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam with the launch of a daily passenger service on June 4.

The cargo service will use the 240-tonne weekly belly-hold capacity of the aircraft to stimulate trade between Ho Chi Minh City, its Dubai hub and more than 120 other destinations.

Ho Chi Minh City will become the 14th Emirates SkyCargo point in the Far East, strengthening its commitment to the region, with major exporters - such as Hong Kong, China, Japan and Korea – already operating on Emirates SkyCargo trade lanes to points throughout Europe and Mena.

Emirates SkyCargo will make use of the 17-tonne cargo hold of the wide-body Airbus 330-200 operating on the route.

From October 28, the trade will receive another boost when a Boeing 777-300ER takes over, providing an additional 80 tonnes of weekly cargo capacity.

“Vietnam is enjoying a period of growth and by facilitating international trade with businesses in the 73 countries we operate to, Emirates SkyCargo looks forward to helping it build on this momentum and become even stronger,” said Ram Menen, Emirates’ divisional senior vice president Cargo.

“With trading powerhouses like Hong Kong and China, the Far East is integral to our business and we are proud to be expanding our services in the region further, with the addition of daily flights from Vietnam’s commercial capital.

“Ho Chi Minh City is just one of 12 destinations added to our network in 2012 and as each point comes online, new trade lanes are created, a trend which will only continue as we take delivery of the 230-plus aircraft we have on order.

“Having used partner carriers to transport freight from Vietnam since 2005, we understand the market and needs of customers. Many more will now be able to take advantage of Dubai’s tremendous geographic location and benefit from our world-class services,” added Menen.

According to the UAE Embassy in Vietnam, the UAE is one of its major trading partners in the Middle East, with bilateral trade between the two countries exceeding $1.2 billion in 2011.

Goods - including smartphones, tablets, printers, garments, sportswear and shoes, as well as perishables - such as seafood, coffee, rice and vegetables - are expected to be transported out of Vietnam. Commodities going in the other direction will include electronics, machinery, steel and petroleum products. – TradeArabia News Service

Lloyd's Register withdraws from Iran

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 06:17:58 GMT

Lloyd's Register, a leading maritime risk management firm, has shut its operations in Iran and can no longer vouch for the safety of the Opec member's fleet due to Western sanctions, the head of the company told Reuters.

Lloyd's Register, a classification society that verifies the safety and environmental standards of vessels, has stopped assessing around 60 tankers and container ships owned by Iran's NITC and Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines following pressure from the United States.

The company joins a broad spectrum of industries, from banks and insurers to refiners and shipowners, that have been forced to cut their ties to Iran because of tightening Western sanctions. The United States and Europe are trying to squeeze the revenues Iran makes from its oil exports to force it to halt a nuclear programme they fear will be used to make weapons, but which Tehran says is for power generation.

'The Americans came to us and said that if we continued to work for the Iranians we would be blacklisted in America,' Richard Sadler, the London-based chief executive of Lloyd's Register, said on the sidelines of a conference in Singapore.

'There was a lot of confusion about the sanctions and actually the recommendations was that it was better for British classification societies within Europe not to be dealing directly with NITC,' he said.

US senators introduced legislation last year barring classification societies from operating in the United States if they also conducted business in Iran. The bill has not been approved by any chamber of the US Congress.

Classification societies are hired by shipowners to regularly check that vessels, from their hull and propulsion systems to the machinery and appliances, meet international safety standards. Under international conventions, it is required for a ship to be classed when docking at major ports.

Iranian ships have signed up with other classification societies in Europe for now to continue shipping crude and other cargo. As Western sanctions tighten, Iran may struggle to find societies to cover their ships.

Lloyd's Register has lost around 3 million pounds ($4.84 million) in annual business from its withdrawal from Iran. There are more than 50 agencies that classify vessels, but not all are members of the International Association of Classification Societies, which classes more than 90 percent of the world's merchant fleet.

Sadler questioned the effectiveness of sanctions that prohibited companies from ensuring the safety of vessels from Iran. 'With a company like ours that is devoted towards protection of life and environment, is it really sensible to take us out of the high-ranking classification societies? What advantage to the world is that?' he said. 'Don't use safety as a political tool against the Iranian society.'

Tighter Western sanctions are also forcing shipowners to take greater risks to maintain operations in Iran. Indian shipping firms will continue to transport Iranian crude even if limited insurance coverage due to European sanctions leave them financially exposed to a spill or accident, a top executive and industry sources told Reuters. - Reuters

Aramex Q1 net profit rises 22pc

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 06:35:36 GMT

Aramex, the Dubai-based logistics firm, posted a 22 percent rise in first-quarter net profit on Tuesday, driven by higher revenues from the Gulf and contribution from its recent South African acquisition.

Aramex, a favourite of regional fund managers, made a first-quarter net profit of 61 million dirhams ($16.6 million), compared with 50 million dirhams for the same period last year.

Revenues rose 25 percent to 746 million dirhams, Aramex said in a bourse filing.

'These results were mainly due to the robust economic growth in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, and the significant contribution of our recent acquisitions in 2011, in particular Berco Express in South Africa,' said Fadi Ghandour, founder and chief executive officer.

Aramex had in December last year paid $55.5 million for the acquisition of South African logistics firm Berco Express.

The company said it remains focused on its strategy of expanding into emerging growth markets in Africa, South East Asia and Central Asia.

Ghandour is to step down by the end of 2012 and hand over day to day operations to Hussein Hachem, the current head of the Middle East and Africa regions, the company said last week.

The company also signed a partnership agreement in March with South Korea's CJ GLS, an unlisted unit of CJ Cheiljedang , a food-to-entertainment conglomerate. The deal will enable Aramex to provide express and freight services to South Korea and follows the firm's launch of a joint venture in China with Sinotrans Air Transportation in November. - Reuters

UAE logistics market ‘seeing top demand’

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 06:35:36 GMT

There is strong demand for high quality warehousing and logistics facilities in the UAE and occupiers are seeking both onshore and free zone ‘build to suit’ developments, said a report.

However, they are facing limited supply, particularly in the larger, 50,000 sq ft plus range, added the first quarter report for the UAE’s industrial and logistics market by Cluttons, the real estate specialist.

The Abu Dhabi Executive Council has announced ambitious plans to develop the infrastructure of the Emirates including 246 km of new road projects, including the expansion of the Emirates Road between Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Further funding is being poured into industrial zone expansion in Kizad and AutoCity, the report said.

Kizad is set to become one of the world’s largest projects of its kind, centred around one of the most sophisticated port hubs – Khalifa Port, according to the report.

The first phase of the Port Development and Kizad Area A is due for completion in the fourth quarter of 2012 with further serviced land currently available and the initial pre-built warehouses being completed in the first half of 2013.

Phase 1 of the pre-built warehousing scheme will include both free zone and non-free zone entities.

The price of oil has remained high, which is reflected in strong demand driven by the GCC petrochemical industry and oil and gas suppliers leading to two further industrial zones being announced in the western region of Abu Dhabi as centres for chemical, petrochemical, building and logistics.

In Dubai, traditional areas like Al Quoz and Ras Al Khor have maintained strong demand and consistently achieve higher rents than the more recently developed areas. The lack of larger units in the Emirate has driven expansion in other areas.

Overall Dubai’s industrial rents split into a small unit market where levels have reduced since Q1 2011 from Dh21 ($5.71) to Dh17 ($4.62) per sq ft with large amounts of stock being introduced by Dubai Investment Park and Dubai Industrial City, the report said.

The larger, higher quality unit market has seen rents holding Dh25-35 per sq ft depending on quality and location with Jafza units remaining at Dh60-70 per sq ft. – TradeArabia News Service

Agility files $225m suit against US agency

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 06:35:35 GMT

Kuwaiti logistics company Agility said on Tuesday it had filed for $225 million in claims against the US Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), saying the agency had breached the terms of a contract.

Agility said in a statement US government officials employed by the DLA and Department of Justice "conspired and acted in concert to intentionally deprive Agility of its rights under the Second Prime Vendor Contract."

It said this was "breaching the contract's express and implied terms and violating regulatory duties."

The US Embassy in Kuwait was not immediately available for comment.

The $225 million comprises the amount owed in performance-based distribution fees plus interest, Agility said.

The contract entailed distributing food products to combat units.

Agility, the largest Gulf Arab logistics company, said it had filed the claims at the Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals in Virginia. – Reuters

RAK FTZ takes part in Doha, Hannover events

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 06:35:35 GMT

Top-level trade delegations from Ras Al Khaimah Free Trade Zone (RAK FTZ), one of the fastest-growing free trade zones in the UAE, are taking part in leading events in Doha and Hannover this week.

A high-level RAK FTZ delegation, led by its CEO Oussama El Omari, took part in the World Investment Forum (WIF) 2012 – a leading conference facilitating dialogue and action on key investment related challenges in Doha.

Organised by United Nations Conference on Trade & Development (UNCTAD), in partnership with Qatar Government, the WIF focused on ‘Investing in Sustainable Development’ and held from April 21 to 23 with participation from over 110 countries, including 15 heads of states, 40 Ministers and over 40 CEOs, among other top officials.

Similarly, RAK FTZ is part of the UAE pavilion at Hannover Messe, the leading international industrial and technology fair in Hannover, Germany, running from April 23 to 27.

The UAE pavilion is part of Global Business & Markets – the dedicated foreign trade platform at the exhibition. RAK FTZ is among the 23 top government, semi-government and private sector organisations in the UAE that are participating under the umbrella of UAE Ministry of Foreign Trade.

At the two top-level events, RAK FTZ is showcasing the strategic business opportunities on offer at the free zone and the UAE, and intends to explore potential joint ventures and collaborations with countries and companies from around the globe. It is also highlighting the advantages of setting up base in the UAE, which acts as a hub for business and trade across the wider Mena region.

“We are extremely privileged to be participating in these events. Our presence at the WIF 2012 in Doha was a great learning experience, where we had numerous interactions with global leaders, senior policy-makers, corporate executives, investors and heads of investment promotion agencies from countries around the world. This was a great platform to reinforce our presence in the region, and our efforts to act as the preferred business hub for global business across the Middle East and Africa,” El Omari said.

“To be a part of the UAE pavilion at Hannover Messe is a great opportunity to educate, encourage and invite global businesses and SMEs on expanding their operations to the UAE and reinforce the favourable investment climate in the country. This is a great networking platform for us – offering unmatched opportunities for one-to-one networking with business delegations from across the world,” he added.

“At RAK FTZ, we have always supported pro-investment policies firmly rooted in the principles of free trade and promoting entrepreneurship,” El Omari noted.

“Through this participation at top events, forums and exhibition, we are looking at establishing and nurturing international business contacts with the free zone. The cost effectiveness of setting up business at RAK FTZ, coupled with value-added services and easy access to do business with neighbouring regions are our salient advantages unmatched in the region,” he concluded. – TradeArabia News Service

Tadmur, UK’s OCS launch logistics JV

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 10:57:06 GMT

Doha-based Tadmur Group, a leading diversified business group in Qatar, and OCS Group, Britain's largest family-owned facilities services company, have launched a facilities management joint venture.

The launch of OCS Qatar marks OCS Group’s first business in the Middle East and brings the number of countries it operates in to more than 30.

The new company, which will spearhead OCS’ growth in the Middle East, has incorporated Tadmur Real Estate's property management and maintenance portfolio and also Tadmur Logistics' soft services divisions. It aims to quickly build new service lines to meet market demand.

Doha-based OCS Qatar will also service the premises of Tadmur Group and its subsidiaries, together with the 250 plus commercial and residential properties owned within the Tadmur Real Estate portfolio.

Tadmur Holdings chairman and OCS Qatar shareholder Nasser Al Kaabi said: "We are delighted with the agreement to joint venture with OCS. I believe both organisations share a common corporate culture and commercial vision. The future for OCS in Qatar and the Middle East is a very bright one indeed."

OCS Group chief executive Chris Cracknell said: "This joint venture is a key part of our international growth plans. It combines Tadmur's established businesses and network with OCS's international experience in delivering facilities services and brings the valued OCS brand and our class-leading systems and service levels to new markets.

"As 2012 continues we will continue to develop joint ventures and acquisitions to strengthen our capabilities and extend our ability to deliver world-class facilities management on an international basis."

"The highly regarded and respected Tadmur brand has been built over the past 27 years,” said Dafer Hallawa, Tadmur Holding CEO and OCS Qatar shareholder.

“With nine successful subsidiary companies I feel there is enormous opportunity to jointly leverage the existing Tadmur businesses with the new OCS facilities management business. OCS Qatar will be well positioned to take advantage of the planned $130 billion Qatar infrastructure spending over the next five years."

OCS Qatar is headed by General Manager Robert Craig. The joint venture deal was sourced and negotiated on OCS's behalf by London-based facilities management consultants Agents4RM. – TradeArabia News Service

New Jeddah port terminal opened officially

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 07:26:22 GMT

Red Sea Gateway Terminal (RSGT), the new container terminal at Jeddah Islamic Port, was officially inaugurated yesterday. It is the first privately funded, build operate and transfer (BOT) port development in Saudi Arabia.

The terminal was opened by Dr Jabara bin Eid Suraiseri, Minister of Transport and chairman of the Saudi Port Authority, and Engineer Abdulaziz Al Twaijri, CEO of the Saudi Port Authority.

The world-class terminal is spearheaded by the Saudi Industrial Services group SISCO,.

The fully automated terminal situated within Jeddah Islamic port and covering over 500,000 sq m. It sports intelligent design and layout, cutting-edge technologies and value-added logistics capabilities; ensuring efficiency within the whole supply chain. It increases the terminal's capacity by 45 per cent.

“World trade is expanding and as a result, the container handling infrastructure in which we specialise will assume an increasingly larger role and importance in the global economy,” said RSGT chairman Sheikh Mohamed Ahmed Zainal Alireza.

RSGT boasts a dedicated deep water navigation channel able to take vessels with a draft up to 16.5 m, can handle the next generation of Triple E Class of mega vessels of 18,000+ TEU (Twenty foot equivalent).

RSGT, which has been operational since December 22, 2009, has celebrated a number of remarkable achievements. They include the berthing of its first mega vessel, the 14,777 TEU CSCL Star in 2011; the highest productivity figures in the region and a handling volume of 1m TEU in 2011 which accounted for 25 per cent of JIP’s volume. - TradeArabia News Service

Jumbo confirms big heavy lift vessel order

Sun, 22 Apr 2012 11:09:45 GMT

Jumbo Shipping, a market leader in oversized and heavyweight cargo transportation, has confirmed the order for a second new K-class vessel, with an option on a third, to complement its existing fleet.

Jumbo said after careful consideration and engineering study, it has decided to upgrade the lifting capacity of the vessels from 1,300 to 1,500mt, enabling tandem lifts of 3,000mt.

These vessels will comfortably surpass the capability of other vessels in their class and reassert Jumbo's leading market position, the company said in a statement.

This latest investment underlines Jumbo’s long-term commitment to its existing and new clients. The company's strategy of continuing re-investment, renewal and development of its fleet is proceeding, as has been its practice for more than forty years, it added.

According to the top shipping group, the K-class vessels are being built at the Brodosplit shipyard in Split, Croatia.

The design incorporates Finnish-Swedish ice class 1A (thus ideal for projects in Arctic regions) and each vessel will be prepared for DP2 installation which, when fitted, will provide multi-facet installation support in the offshore sector enabling large and heavy structures to be loaded, transported and installed by a single vessel optimizing project scheduling, safety and efficiency.

The first vessel will be in active service in the autumn of 2013. The sister-ship will follow some six months later.-TradeArabia News Service

300m long ship berths at Aden terminal

Sun, 22 Apr 2012 11:09:45 GMT

Aden Container Terminal (ACT), operated by global marine terminal operator DP World, has received and serviced a 300-metre long container vessel, owned by Singapore-based Pacific International Lines.

The 6,606 TEU (twenty-foot equivalent container unit) Kota Carum, built in 2011, is the largest PIL container ship to ever berth at Aden.

DP World Aden rolled out a drill of discharging and loading containers with its skilled workforce and state-of-the-art quayside handling technology to deliver premium turnaround time to the customer, a statement said.

PIL Kota Carum was berthed on arrival and stayed alongside for 21 hours and 14 minutes.

“We congratulate Pacific International Lines and their new vessel, Kota Carum, on her maiden visit to Aden and the Red Sea area, the busiest sea trade transit route in the world today,” said Captain Faisal Al Qahtani, senior vice president and managing director, DP World, Middle East Region.

“This port call once again demonstrates the efficient gateway and transshipment role played by DP World Aden and its importance to Yemen’s domestic economy. We commend DP World Aden’s team for the meticulous ability with which they safely and efficiently discharged and loaded a ship of this size.”

Arthur Flynn, general manager, DP World Aden, said: “PIL Kota Carum is among the largest ships to visit us and we thank PIL for their confidence in DP World Aden’s service capabilities. DP World Aden’s natural deep water harbour and proven operational efficiencies has made it possible for us to handle this mega liner. We are proud that our operations team was able to safely achieve an excellent turnaround time for our valued customer.”

With its 16-metre quayside depth, DP World Aden occupies a strategic position as a gateway port to meet the needs of Yemen’s importers and exporters, the statement said. – TradeArabia News Service

Mina Zayed container volumes soar 47pc

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 11:34:23 GMT

The number of containers handled at Mina Zayed port in Abu Dhabi during 2011 rose 47 per cent year-on-year to 767,713 TEUs (twenty foot equivalent units), said a report.

The volumes at the port tripled from 250,000 TEU in 2006 to more than 767,000 TEU last year, Martijn Van De Linde, CEO of Abu Dhabi Terminals (ADT) was quoted as saying by the Gulf News report.

"The growth so far has been impressive, but the most exciting years are still ahead of us and we are now working hard on preparations for the opening of the new container terminal at Khalifa Port," he said.

When the new terminal opens in the fourth quarter of 2012, it will be the region's first semi-automated container terminal, he added.

Agility wins Spanish heavy-lift contract

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 07:12:48 GMT

Global logistics provider Agility has won a contract to transport 420 railway wagons from Spain to Kazakhstan for Talgo, a leading Spanish manufacturer of railway wagons and components.

As per the contract, Agility will provide all logistics services starting with the collection of the wagons at factories in Spain through delivery to Talgo’s factory in Astana, Kazakhstan.

Throughout the project, Agility will leverage its specialized expertise, global network and partnerships to manage the movement of wagons from origin to final destination, while providing the highest standard of health, safety and quality management, said the company.

Agility teams across Europe – from Spain, Finland and Kazakhstan – will together deliver this complex, heavy-lift project., it added.

“Agility has a strong presence in Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan,” said Francesc Casamitjana, Agility’s managing director of Area South.

“We understand fast moving economies and bring experience and know-how to industries such as engineering, energy, mining and heavy equipment supply,” he added.-TradeArabia News Service

Stanford Marine fleet value rises by $200m

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 07:12:48 GMT

Dubai-based Stanford Marine, a leading marine business, has completed its newbuild programme and delivery of its 10th high-spec offshore support vessel, resulting in the fleet value increasing by $200 million.

The completion of the programme concludes a strategic growth initiative established by Stanford Marine which has also resulted in a doubling of revenue and EBITDA.

The vessels in the newbuild program which include two deep water 87-metre large platform supply vessels (PSVs), two mid-size 70-metre PSVs, and six mid-size 58-meter PSVs were placed on medium to long-term charters in the Middle East, South East Asia and East Africa, further augmenting the company’s customer base.

The newbuild program, which was initiated in 2010, enables the company to reduce the age of its fleet with the integration of state of the art vessels, enhance its fleet mix with expanded capabilities in deep water services and expand its geographical footprint by establishing operations in East Africa, a statement said.

“We are very pleased to announce these strong financial results for Stanford Marine. With a larger and rejuvenated fleet of 40 vessels in operation, spanning the Middle East to East Africa and South East Asia, Stanford Marine continues to consolidate its position as one of the leading players in the industry,” said Elias Nassif, chief executive officer of Stanford Marine Group.

“We look forward to an exciting year ahead and executing on an ambitious growth plan that will extend our reach into new markets.”

Vincent Weve, general manager, Stanford Marine added: “Stanford Marine has been able to capitalize on the growing demand for high quality and reliable Offshore Support Vessels. This is reflected in the company’s exponential growth and investments in upgrading our fleet to keep up with the increasing demand for our services.” – TradeArabia News Service

TNT Lebanon launches new web tool

Wed, 18 Apr 2012 12:23:20 GMT

TNT Express, one of the world’s leading express delivery companies, has launched myTNT web tool service in Lebanon aimed at helping improve customer online experience.

The myTNT service is a web-based shipping management tool designed for registered TNT Express customers.

It is a secure area within TNT webpage which offers to its express customers the opportunity to manage and track their shipments in one click.

Roger Haddad, country general manager for TNT Express in Lebanon, said, "The new portal will empower the fast moving business environment where time is critical for our business partners and their online bookings on any device (laptop or mobile) will boost their supply chain management 24/7."

Within myTNT environment, the web service provides the registered customers a tool to prepare a shipment with links to the customer’s own address book and shipping templates.

This includes cost and delivery estimates, track and trace through the consignment number or their respective account number. myTNT will automatically pass the shipping data to the depot eliminating the need for scanning the parcels on arrival.

In Lebanon, TNT Express is represented by The Netholding, a well-established company specialised in the express and freight business.

Tim Frank, general manager for TNT Associates in the Middle East and Indian sub-continent, said, “It is a safe and a secured setting. The minute our customers log in, all transactions are encrypted and protected by the industry standard Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) protocol."

"With a few clicks, customers can track their consignments, know the cost, check the transit time, benefit from the automated documentation system and most important save time," he added.-TradeArabia News Service

DHL Bahrain wins key certification

Wed, 18 Apr 2012 12:23:20 GMT

The DHL Express Bahrain Hub and Regional Distribution Centre has again been awarded a Class A 100 per cent certification by the internationally-recognised Transported Asset Protection Association (Tapa).

"DHL Express Bahrain Hub has received the highest security certification, continuing the company's outstanding Tapa certification history in the Middle East," said Bahrain Hub general manager Stephen Duff.

"We are also setting new records in security standards," he remarked.

"For the third consecutive time, the regional hub in Bahrain has been awarded a Class A certification with a 100 per cent score, and we have also been re-certified according to the new 2011 requirements.

"The Bahrain country office operations and gateway also achieved a 96.22 per cent score with Class A certification and our Oman country office and new gateway facility combined were certified with a 90.5 per cent Class A score," he added.

"The continuous high scores are a testament to DHL's commitment to delivering safety at every step of the journey," Duff said.

"They also highlight the security standards in Bahrain and the important position the kingdom continues to hold as the gateway to the Middle East and a key aviation and logistics centre for the region," he added.-TradeArabia News Service

Qatar's LNG tanker due in UK

Tue, 17 Apr 2012 08:46:08 GMT

Liqufied natural gas (LNG) tanker Al Ruwais will arrive from Qatar at the UK's Milford Haven import terminal in Wales on April 30, according to AIS Live ship-tracking data on Reuters.

The vessel, which can carry up to 215,000 cubic meters of the super-cooled fuel, would be the fourth new LNG tanker bound for British shores since last week.

It suggests a pick-up in deliveries following a months-long lull, weighing on UK gas prices in line with rising confidence in supply.-Reuters

DP World London project receives top award

Tue, 17 Apr 2012 08:46:07 GMT

DP World’s London Gateway project has been awarded the ‘Global Deal of the Year’ at the recently held Infrastructure Journal Awards in London.

The London Gateway team was accompanied by representatives from Allen & Overy, Royal Bank of Scotland and Société Générale, who all played key roles in advising and financing the project, a statement from DP World said.

The award recognises the delivery of outstanding infrastructure projects and is a recognition of the deep-sea container port’s successful project financing, which was fully secured in December last year.

Sarmad Qureshi, director of finance of DP World Europe and Russia, collected the award on behalf of the team. “This award is a further endorsement of the London Gateway project. It sends a clear message to our customers that this is a globally significant development which has secured world class financial backing.”

“Securing this deal has allowed construction to forge ahead and I am delighted that we were able to close on what has been recognised as the best infrastructure project deal in all sectors.”

“We are very confident that London Gateway will be able to deliver substantial supply chain cost savings to global shippers,” he said. “Thanks to our closer location to key UK markets we will also be able to help customers move their goods in a greener, more efficient way, reducing CO2 and other transport emissions.”

Conrad Andersen, partner at Allen & Overy, said: “The London Gateway project is one that will deliver tangible benefits to the UK economy.” – TradeArabia News Service

Asry in Nigeria power barge talks

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 08:13:59 GMT

Bahrain-based Arab Shipbuilding and Repair Yard Company (Asry) held talks with a high-level Nigerian delegation on supply of a number of the firm's unique power barge products.

The power barges are the yard's most recent diversification, in partnership with UK-based Centrax and Rolls Royce, and are waterborne power stations deployable in previously inaccessible areas, such as upstream Nigeria.

The Nigerian delegation, headed by executive governor of Anambra state, Peter Gregory, visited Asry for two days, which included intensive talks on the specifications of the barges, the company's region leading capabilities, and the in-depth requirements of Nigeria's power needs.

The delegation inspected the yard and particularly the progression of a barge already under construction.

"Having seen the barge and yard in detail, the governor and the delegation had a much clearer idea of the sophistication and professionalism of the project," said Asry chief executive Chris Potter.

"We expect to be working closely with them in the future."

The power barges will be waterborne power generating units that can be deployed in a multitude of otherwise unreachable areas, at minimal expense.

They employ a self-contained, modular electricity generating system designed to be situated within port, river or sheltered coastal locations and remain in operation for at least 20 years.

The new division created to manage the barge production, Asry Energy Division, will be responsible for the management, engineering, building and integration of the power barges while a JV company has been set up with Centrax, the British power generation packaging specialists, to design, market and package the barges for international clients. Rolls Royce will provide the engines.-TradeArabia News Service

Drydocks delivers new self elevating platform

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 08:13:58 GMT

Drydocks World, a leader in ship repair, conversion and new building announced, has delivered a self elevating platform to India-based Afcons Infrastructure. The platform was built at Drydocks World – Dubai shipyard.

The self elevating platform is intended for use for construction and maintenance of port jetties, geo surveys with an option of mounting drills, piling operations and pile load testing.

The applications are also being looked at a diversified field of oil and gas for the repair and maintenance of offshore platforms and well heads.

“Our business strategy of supporting the oil and gas industry with needs-based vessels and platforms with best-in-class sophisticated capabilities has worked well for everyone,” said Khamis Juma Buamim, chairman of Drydocks World and Maritime World.

“We are delighted to have completed the construction of this platform as per requirements and within the agreed schedule. We believe in continuous improvement as part of constant endeavor to achieve operational excellence. A high standard of safety, quality and environmental management is involved in all our operations,” he added.

The platform is 45 metres long and 25 metres wide having the gross tonnage is 1557. The scope of work at the yard involved detailed engineering, procurement and construction. It is constructed with four spud legs each 60 metres long.

It can be jacked up with four spuds and a jacking system and has an elevated weight of 2928 tonnes approximately. It is equipped with a Manitowoc crane, six mooring winches, two generator sets and three engines, which provide power to the hydraulic systems. – TradeArabia News Service

Majaal Warehouse inks tenancy deal

Sun, 15 Apr 2012 11:11:39 GMT

Majaal Warehouse Company, a leading provider of warehousing and industrial facilities for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Bahrain, has signed a new tenancy agreement with King Hamad University Hospital (KHUH).

Providing medical services employing best therapeutic and administrative practices and academic and research services, KHUH has chosen the safe and secure Majaal complex as an ideal location to store its medical equipment and pharmaceutical products, said a company statement.

Additionally, the hospital will set up its state-of-the-art pharmaceutical products distribution centre at Majaal’s premises, occupying 21,500 sq ft of the project, it added.

Announcing the deal, Brigadier (Dr) Salman Bin Ateyatallah Al Khalifa, the chief executive officer of KHUH said 'The availability of cost-effective and flexible space in this prime location at the Salman Industrial City, in addition to the state-of-the art facilities and professional support have made Majaal an ideal location for our storage and distribution needs.'

'With the establishment of this facility, we are looking forward to securely and conveniently store our pharmaceutical products and medical equipment and commencing our distribution operations,' he stated.

Welcoming KHUH into the Majaal family, Amin Al Arrayed, the managing director said, 'Further diversifying Majaal’s tenant base, we are especially proud to now be associated with this prestigious organization, the Kingdom’s most hi-tech teaching hospital and medical university.'

'This collaboration demonstrates the versatility of Majaal and highlights how the warehouse space can be modified to meet specific tenant requirements. We are looking forward to a very successful partnership,' he added.

Majaal is located within the Salman Industrial City at the Bahrain Investment Wharf, providing easy access to Khalifa bin Salman Port and other major transport links in Bahrain.

Majaal presently offers 130,000 sq ft of secure, flexible and cost effective storage spaces, remarked Al Arrayed.

In choosing to base its pharmaceutical products distribution centre and storage facility for its medical equipment and pharmaceutical products at Majaal, KHUH will also benefit from the set of value-added services that raise the bar for such facilities, he added.-TradeArabia News Service