Transport and Logistics
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Mina Zayed container shipments up 27%
Abu Dhabi Terminals has reported 27% increase in the number of containers handled at Mina Zayed between January and June to 223,281, The National has reported. Imported consumer goods are on the rise, while car shipments fell with 19,809 vehicles shipped into Mina Zayed in the first half of the year, half the number shipped in a year ago.
Agility inks $21m deal
Kuwaiti logistics firm Agility has signed a $21m agreement to provide freight services for a project development by Lihir Gold Limited in Papua New Guinea (PNG), Reuters has reported. The project at the Lihir Gold Mine in Papua New Guinea is expected to conclude within two years, with a cost of $700m, Agility has said.
Abu Dhabi launches safety campaign
Abu Dhabi Department of Transport (DoT) in association with Abu Dhabi Police has announced a Dhs40m short-term safety enhancement programme which aims to enhance traffic security and safety on the Al Mafraq-Al Ghowaifat road, the 327 km highway linking the UAE to Saudi Arabia. The project includes improving single balloon U-turns; closing dangerous U-turns between Al-Mafraq and Al Ghwaifat; installing directional and warning signs, road markings, solar power flashers at unlit U-turns, and speed humps in rest areas, and other measures. In addition, Abu Dhabi Traffic Police, the strategic partner of the DoT in this initiative, has installed 20 solar-powered automated speed radars throughout the entire roadway.
Abu Dhabi aims to boost safety on dangerous road
The government of Abu Dhabi has announced that it is launching an $11m programme to improve safety on the highway considered to be the most dangerous in the UAE. The 327km Al Mafraq - Al Ghowaifat highway is a vital road that links the UAE to Saudi Arabia, but it accounted for 14% of all road accidents in Abu Dhabi last year, the capital's Department of Transport said. The safety programme involves closing dangerous U-turns, installing speed humps and signage, and improving pedestrian crossings.
Jafza, Aviation City enter logistics pact
Economic Zones World, through its flagship entity Jafza, and Dubai Aviation City Corporation, are entering into a collaboration that could result in the doubling of Dubai's industrial and logistics infrastructure. The agreement sets out to create The Dubai Logistics Corridor, a transport and logistics corridor linking sea, land and air, bringing together for the first time in the Middle East all of the components needed to create multi-modal logistics platform. To develop the multi-modal logistics platform the two entities will cooperate to align their business processes and leverage their key assets of Al Maktoum International Airport, Jebel Ali Port and each party's respective Free Zones (JafzaJafza for EZWEZW and Dubai Logistics City and Aviation City for DWC).
Dubai taxis to remind passengers
The Dubai Taxi Agency of the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has introduced a new electronic announcement system in the taxis to remind passengers not to forget their luggage at the time of getting off the cabs, the Gulf News has reported. So far about 1,060 taxis have been equipped with the new system while it is being installed in rest of the fleet of a total 3,503 vehicles. It is only available on Dubai Taxis.
DP World signs 15-year lease with Port Botany
Global marine terminal operator DP World has signed a new 15-year operating lease extension at Port Botany in Sydney, Australia. The lease agreement is the third significant DP World contract in Australia this year, following the recent 40-year lease renewal at DP World Brisbane and a new 30-year operating lease at Adelaide. The new lease is expected to improve overall port efficiency, and includes specific incentives to improve truck servicing and rail performance, and is expected to significantly ease terminal and road congestion, whilst reducing energy consumption.
Iraq signs two port investment contracts
Iraq's Transport Ministry said it has signed two contracts with French firm CMA and a German-Kuwaiti joint-venture to invest in two commercial wharfs in Umm Qasr port, Aswat al-Iraq news agency has reported. The ministry has also signed another contract with an Iraqi firm to build two new docks and a container station at a cost of more than ID14 billion ($12m) with the aim of increasing the volume of exported and imported loads via the southern ports.
Abu Dhabi orders more Z Portal Systems
Abu Dhabi Customs Administration has placed a follow-on $8.6 million order with American Science and Engineering Inc., a US-based firm specializing in X-ray detection technology, for multiple Z Portal X-ray screening systems. The Z Portal systems will be used to scan vehicles at a strategic border checkpoint in Abu Dhabi, the company has said. The Z Portal system produces photo-like images with multi-view, drive-through screening for left, right, and top-down imaging of cars, vans, trucks, and their cargo for detection capability of plastic and liquid explosives, narcotics, plastics weapons, drugs, stowaways, and alcohol.
TNT Express wins Volvo contract
Volvo Car Overseas Middle East has said it has awarded TNT Express in the UAE, a two-year contract to provide express road and air distribution across the Middle East. The contract will see TNT carry some 6000 Volvo shipments per year, accounting for all Volvo parts outbound business by air and road. TNT, which has been responsible for providing Volvo with express-based services in the region for the last three years, saw the extension of the existing scope to include all road and air shipments to all destinations from the purpose built distribution centre in Jebel Ali.
Suez Canal revenues down 26%
An official of Egypt's Suez Canal Authority has said that revenues of the waterway have dipped 26% to $348.2m in June, compared to $471.4m in the same month last year, Reuters has reported. The number of vessels using the waterway was 1,401 in June, down from 1,819 in June 2008, the official said.
DP World inks new lease with Port Botany
Marine port operator DP World has signed a new 15-year operating lease extension with Port Botany in Sydney, Australia. The new lease is aimed at improving overall port efficiency, and includes specific incentives to improve truck servicing and rail performance in New South Wales.
Qatar Shipping, Navigation merger 'on track'
Qatar Navigation and Qatar Shipping Co. have said that the evaluation process of the proposed merger of the two companies, as announced on the Qatar Exchange on May 7, 2009, has begun and is proceeding on track. HSBC Bank Middle East has been appointment as investment bank advisor and lead consultant to evaluate and advise on the potential merger, the two companies have said.
UAE train firm approved
UAE President, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, has approved a federal law decree for the creation of an independent rail company, to be involved in the transporting of goods and passengers, which will operate under the name 'Etihad Trains Company', according to WAM. The company, which is to be wholly owned by the federal government, will engage in the owning, leasing, renting, purchasing and selling of trains, as well as in investing in the transporting of passengers and goods.
Abu Dhabi Mar buys Nobiskrug shipyard
A UAE-based yacht builder says it has bought a controlling interest in the Nobiskrug Shipyard, in Rendsburg, Germany. With 100 million euros in turnover, the shipyard has been in existence since 1905 and has launched more than 700 vessels, Abu Dhabi MAR said in a statement. Abu Dhabi MAR, which was established two years ago, shares common ownership with the CMN Shipyard in Cherbourg, France, and currently has four yachts under construction.
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