Transport and Logistics
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Dubai to use driving training simulator
The licensing agency of the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has acquired a vehicle simulator which will help assess the abilities of learner drivers, according to Gulf News. A senior official said the technology used in the system is unique as it is the sole system that uses actual vehicles, and is able to produce CDs with aerial photos of the vehicle in a road environment. 'We are in talks with the driving institutes to check the effectiveness of the system and the possibility of installing it in driving schools,' Engineer Ali Al Jasem, director of the licensing section at the Licensing Agency Dubai said.
Dubai to have new traffic radars
The Director of the General Department of Traffic, Brigadier Engineer Mohammed Saif Al Zafin has said that Dubai Police has started using more sophisticated radars which are able to detect a range of traffic violations including driving on the shoulder, leaving no safety space, unfastening seat belts and risky lane changing, as well as speeding. The new radars will also help in counting the number of the vehicles on the road.
DP World inks Flinders Ports deal
Marine terminal operator DP World has announced its partnership with Australia's Flinders Ports, which include a 30-year concession for DP World's operations in Adelaide. DP World will hold 60% of the stake in the new joint venture and 40% for Flinders Ports. DP World has operated the terminal at Adelaide since 2005.
Salalah Port profits down 81%
Oman's Salalah Port Services has blamed financing costs linked to the ongoing expansion of the port, as well as the slowdown in global trade, for an 81% drop in Q1 profits to OR300,000 ($780,000), down from OR1.5m during the same period in 2008, MEED has reported. Quarterly net financing costs doubled to OR548,000 as it took on new loans to fund extra capacity.
Palm Jumeirah Monorail begins operations
The Palm Monorail, connecting the Palm Jumeirah with the Dubai shore, is now officially open. The monorail is now running four trains between the Gateway Towers and Atlantis stations, with a capacity of 2,400 passengers per hour per direction in four separate trains, each made up of three cars. The service runs from 8:00am to 10:00pm daily with tickets costing Dhs15 for a single journey and Dhs25 for a round trip. The frequency will be increased to a total of nine trains per hour with nine vehicles with a capacity of 6,000 passengers per hour per day once connected to the Dubai Metro.
GAC Marine agrees logistics deal
Ship management company Bernhard Schulte (BSM) has appointed GAC Marine Logistics (GML), a global ship spares logistics specialist, as one of its key partners to handle marine spares logistics. As per the contract, GML has been awarded the logistics services to and from Korea and the Middle East for delivery to BSM's vessels trading around the world.
Kuwait Finance to create 'shipping fund'
Cyprus-listed SFS Group and Kuwait Finance House (KFH) will establish a Shariah-compliant shipping fund which aims to raise $150m to invest directly in 'high quality and modern vessels' with a preference for offshore tonnage such as offshore supply vessels and platform supply vessels. All investments will require the prior approval of KFH's Shariah committee. The fund will be established before the end of 2009, and will be managed by an equally-owned company acting as the general partner based in the Cayman Islands. After first closing, the fund will run for seven years with up to three additional one-year extensions to allow for orderly liquidation of the assets.
Man AG receives 386 Saudi truck order
German group Man AG has said in a statement that Saudi Arabian building contractor Mohammed A. Al Swailem Co. has ordered 300 MAN TGA-WW 40.400 6x4 tippers and water tankers, to be delivered as completely knocked down kits to be assembled in the new MAN plant in Jeddah. The group has also ordered 60 TGAWW 41.400 8x4 complete vehicles with 12-cubic-metre mixer bodies, and 26 MAN TGM all-wheel drive vehicles for construction site operation.
GEM takes delivery of vessel
Gulf Energy Maritime (GEM) has taken delivery of its 12th vessel, Gulf Muttrah, a 47,000 dwt oil and chemical product tanker, built by Hyundai Mipo Dockyard. Financing for the tanker was done by First Gulf Bank as part of a $90m term facility to finance the construction and purchase of two vessels, the second of which is due for delivery in May.
Dubai Industrial City to launch second phase
Dubai Industrial City (DIC) has said in a statement that it plans to launch the second phase of its open storage yards, as the 2.8m sqft of open storage yards of phase one is currently utilized by UAE-based companies. Rashed Al Ansari, VP of Dubai Industrial City, said DIC plans to have the second phase operational within the next couple of months.
Agility profit down 1.3%
Agility's Chief Financial Officer Ehab Aziz told Reuters that the company has posted a 1.3% fall in Q1 net profit to KD37m compared to KD37.5m in the same period a year earlier. Net profit before non-recurring items rose 16.4% to KD39.2m. Revenues fell by 8.1% to KD407.4m in the quarter, citing a decline of volumes in its commercial logistics business. The firm also said operating profit before non-recurring items rose 12.8% to 43.75 in Q1.
Aramex revenue down 6%, profit up 19%
Dubai-listed logistics Aramex has said in a statement that its Q1 net profit rose 19% to Dhs43.1m, and company revenues fell 6% to Dhs463.4m, as lower costs offset a decline in revenues. The group's net profit margin grew from 7.3% in Q1 2008 to 9.3% in Q1 2009.
Dubai RTA launching
Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) is to run a 'My Metro' campaign to promote the Dubai Metro to city dwellers. Highlighting its services and facilities, the campaign will initially focus on timings, design and general information, while the second phase comprises all information related to the metro operation, fare, public services, station services, multi-modal integration, security and safety. Phase III will set the stage for its September 9 launch date and covers media, promotional and marketing outlets. The RTA will also release Metro timetables.
Mowasalat hires duped Filipino drivers
Qatar's public transportation company Mowasalat has hired 36 of the 137 Filipino bus drivers stranded in Dubai, who were reportedly duped by a recruitment agency and given bogus jobs, according to the Philippine Department of Labour and Employment. Emirates Flight Catering is also hiring 44 of the drivers, and intends to hire 20 more of them, The Peninsula has reported.
June start for Iraq-Syria railway service
Amer Abduljabbar, Iraq's minister of transportation has confirmed to Aswat al-Iraq news agency the June 1st launch of its railway that will link Iraq to Syria, allowing for freight transfer from southern Europe to the Gulf. Iraq has repaired the railway that connects Umm Qasr port to the Syrian border.
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