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UPS and Ünsped form Dubai venture
Courier company United Parcel Service (UPS) plans to create a joint venture with Ünsped Paket Servisi Sanayi ve Ticaret, an authorised UPS contractor in Turkey for 20 years, covering a number of Middle Eastern countries. The deal will help it put focus on overseas markets as US deliveries fall. The JV, which will be based in Dubai, will cover 21 countries including Turkey, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates and will help the Atlanta-based company increase international deliveries.
Odfjell SE signs Dubai deal with NCC
Norwegian shipping company Odfjell SE has signed a 50:50 joint venture with Saudi Arabia's National Chemical Carriers to set up a company in Dubai to operate their respective fleets of coated (IMO 2/3) chemical tankers of 40,000 deadweight tonnes (DWT) and above. The JV will start early next year with 15 vessels and a total DWT capacity of nearly 660,000 tonnes, which will grow to 31 vessels and a DWT of nearly 1.4 million tonnes over the next three years. The JV will trade in the chemicals, vegetable oils and clean petroleum products markets on a world-wide basis, with emphasis on the growing production and export of the GCC.
Drydocks World Dubai launches seismic vessel
Drydocks World Dubai has launched the marine seismic vessel 'Polarcus Nadia', which was purpose built for the 3D marine seismic market and can tow up to 12 m x 8,000 m (39 ft x 26,247 ft) streamers, the company has said. The vessel design incorporates an Ulstein X-bow hull, a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system, and a DP-2 dynamic positioning system.
Gulfnav to finalise new fleet deal
Gulf Navigation Holding (Gulfnav) has announced that it is in the final phase in negotiating the acquisition of a large and modern tanker fleet to to expand its chemical, product and crude carrier fleets. is also in negotiations with leading banks about a competitive package to finance the transaction.
MidEast freight volumes down 15%
Hussein Hachem, CEO GCC of Aramex has said that freight volumes have come down by 15% for logistics companies across the Middle East in the past six months, Emirates Business has reported. 'Business is down and that has had an impact. This cannot be denied. Exporters are exporting less. And importers are importing less,' he said. Aramex's Q1 profits rose over the corresponding period in 2008 as customers shipped lesser volumes but increased their number of shipments focusing on specific demands, Hachem said.
Etihad Cargo inks Descartes Cargo 2000 deal
Etihad Crystal Cargo has selected Descartes Systems Group's Descartes Cargo 2000 to help the airline comply with business process and automation standards established by the International Air Transport Association. The new software system will allow the airline to monitor shipments at a master airway bill level between airports; monitor events and match route map milestones against actual event timing; consolidate the status data of multiple route maps to obtain statistical data about transportation quality; and use route maps to describe transportation milestones from origin to destination. Cargo 2000, an industry initiative led by IATA was created to standardize processes that improve efficiencies for the worldwide air cargo industry.
Aqaba terminal reports record throughput
Jordan's Aqaba Container Terminal, which is operated and managed by APM Terminals under a 25-year joint development agreement, said it handled its largest ever monthly volume of 64,525 TEUs in May, contributing to overall year-to-date container throughput growth of 23%. ACT and APM executives have said that over the last three years more than $100m were invested in yard and equipment improvements. Last year's investments include two Super Post-Panamax gantry cranes for delivery early in 2010, six newly delivered rubber-tired Gantry Cranes, 100 additional reefer plugs, and the refurbishment and upgrading of the existing facilities.
Grandweld secures new shipbuilding contracts
Dubai-based Grandweld Shipyard has won a contract to build two 36m utility vessels and one 41m crewboat for Humaid Badir Marine Shipping. The utility vessel is designed to accommodate up to 44 persons, 70 tons of deck cargo and is powered by two Caterpillar engines rated at 1450HP each that would take the vessel to a maximum speed of 13knots. The crewboat carries 45 tons of deck cargo, 60 persons, has a maximum speed of 24knots and includes customer specified requirements.
Aramex launches Value Express service
Aramex, the logistics and transportation solutions provider, has launched its Value Express service for express shipments within the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia. The new service offers customers the option to transport less urgent parcels at economical rates, while ensuring time-definite delivery, door-to-door transport, customs clearance and track-and-trace online tools.
Dubai Metro fares released
Students and elderly passengers are to have access to cheap fare deals on Dubai's new Metro system. The transit system will also be accessible by use of a 'Nol' (meaning 'Fare' in Arabic) card, which will come in four versions according to the needs of commuters. The cards will enable use of the Metro, buses, water buses and paid parking zones - although parking for the Metro will be free for train passengers. Continues below>>
Jafza posts growth, freezes hikes
Salma Hareb, CEO of Jebel Ali Free Zone Authority (JAFZA) has said that the free zone has recorded an 18% growth in revenues during the first quarter of 2009, compared to the same period in 2008, according to the Khaleej Times. She also said that Jafza will not raise the fees it charges firms that operate in the zone, as part of an effort to support them during the crisis. Jafza will extend all kinds of support to companies operating in the free zone, but will offer relief only on an individual basis and not in the form of an across-the-board reduction in fees to all customers, she said.
Dubai Aluminium inks DP World deal
Dubai Aluminium Co has signed a four-year contract with DP World to handle its cargo operations. The two firms have said in a joint statement that DP World will handle 'more than 14.5 million tons of imported raw materials and close to five million tons of aluminium products for export to destinations across the globe.'
Orascom wins Cairo metro deal
Egypt's Orascom Construction Industries has said that it had won contracts worth $140m for work on the second phase of Cairo's third metro rail line. The contracts cover civil, electromechanical and railway works, the firm said. The new line is due for completion in the fourth quarter of 2013.
DSCS to launch free zone in Al Sagah area by 2011
Sharjah's Department of Seaports and Customs in Sharjah has announced it has designated a plot of land for a free zone it plans to launch in Al Sagah area by 2011, reported Khaleej Times. Starting in 2010, most of the big factories and companies will be moved from Port Khalid to Al Hamriya Free Zone, said member of Sharjah Executive Council and DSCS-Chairman Sheikh Khaled bin Abdullah bin Sultan Al Qasimi.
Lufthansa, DHL launch joint cargo airline
Lufthansa Cargo and DHL Express have officially launched their joint cargo airline, AeroLogic, which will start service on June 29th. The new JV will deploy eight leased Boeing 777 freighters, two of which have already been delivered with two more scheduled to follow by the end of the year. The remaining four planes will join the fleet by the end of 2010. DHL will operate express services on a Leipzig-Bahrain-Singapore-Delhi-Leipzig rotation on weekdays, while Lufthansa Cargo will operate on a Leipzig-Tashkent-Hong Kong-Tashkent-Leipzig loop on weekends. Furthermore, AeroLogic plans to offer new direct connections to most of Asia's major metropolitan areas by 2010.
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