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DP World profits fall
First-half profit at DP World, the Dubai government-controlled ports management company, fell 34% to $188m on weak container volumes. Revenues were down 13% to $1.384bn from $1.598bn for the same period last year. "The first six months of 2009 have continued to present a very challenging operating environment across the portfolio," the port operator said. DP World said it still believes it will meet 2008 expectations for the full year, although warned that trading continues to be unpredictable.
Etihad Cargo launches in Baghdad
Etihad Crystal Cargo has announced a twice weekly service from Abu Dhabi airport to Baghdad, the capital of Iraq. The service begins on September 1 2009 and is set to operate every Tuesday and Thursday, deploying one of its A300 600 freighters with a payload of 42 tonnes on the route.
US agency extends Agility contract
US Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) has extended its contract for warehouse and distribution services with Agility Defense & Government Services (DGS), the public sector arm of Kuwait-based Agility. The contract runs out of the Defense Distribution Center, Kuwait/Southwest Asia (DDKS). Under the one-year extension, Agility DGS will use its Kuwait facilities to provide DLA with a warehouse management system to support operations in the Middle East and Southwest Asia.
Drydocks inaugurates 6,000 T ship lift
Drydocks World - Dubai, a ship repair, conversion and new building company under the Drydocks World Group, has carried out its first operation on the advanced 6,000-tonne ship lift. The inauguration took place at the industrial precinct in Dubai Maritime City (DMC), which also has another ship lift with a capacity of 3,000 tonnes, which is operational already. (Mac Capital Advisors)
RTA kits buses with safety systems
The Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) says it has equipped its new fleet of buses with a range of features to improve safety. It includes the i-Shift gear system, designed to increase driver comfort and reduce the risks of accidents and an Electronic Stability Program (ESP) to give drivers better control of the bus, increasing its stability reducing the risk of skidding or sliding. Buses also come with emergency exits, alarm systems, fire extinguishers and first aid kits.
Maersk Line introduces new direct service
Maersk Line has introduced a direct service, called ME2, from India and the Middle East to the West Mediterranean and back. It will be through a slot exchange agreement with Kuwait-based United Arab Shipping on its Mina Service. The ME2 service rotation covers the ports of Valencia, Genoa, Jeddah, Jebel Ali, Port Qasim in Pakistan and Nhava Sheva in India.
Financial crisis put GCC port projects at risk
According to a report by Kuwait Financial Centre (Markaz), planned investments worth almost $40bn to expand the cargo-handling capacity of seaports in the Gulf could now be at risk, due to declining oil revenues in the region and concerns about the continuation of the financial crisis, Khaleej Times has reported. Of 20 projects announced, work is in progress on 12, the report said. Saudi Arabia and the UAE each planned five port projects. Construction work is underway on all UAE projects, while two projects in Saudi Arabia are still in the planning and design stage.
APL Logistics opens in Dubai Logistics City
APL Logistics, part of Singapore-based Neptune Orient Lines, is opening a distribution flow centre in Dubai Logistics City's (DLC). It will link specialised multi-country consolidation, distribution and other value-added services with international transportation networks in a 25,000 square meter facility in the free trade zone. The facility is next to a number of light manufacturing sites and is close to Dubai's air cargo terminal, Jebel Ali Port and road links.
New buses for Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi's Department of Transport (DoT) has launched four additional local routes in Al Ain, starting this month, and plans to replace 40 of the ageing Chinese buses serving the emirate's capital. The total fleet of buses in the capital will reach 500 by the end of 2009, and around 860 by the end of 2010, DoT said.
RTA abras carry over nine million commuters
Over nine million commuters used the motorised abra service to travel across Dubai Creek in the first seven months of 2009, accounting for over 455,000 trips, said the Roads and Transport Authority's (RTA) Marine Transport Agency. March proved to be the busiest month, with 1,481,655 passengers ferried in 74,083 trips, followed by May (1,445,120 passengers) and July (1,407,379).
Etihad Crystal starts Iraq service
UAE-based Etihad Crystal Cargo is launching a scheduled freighter service to Baghdad on September 1. A 42-tonne payload A300-600F will operate the twice-weekly service between the Iraqi capital and Etihad's Abu Dhabi hub.
Dubai Metro costs rise by 'billions'
Mattar Al Tayer, chairman of the board and the executive director of the Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), has said that the cost of the Dubai Metro project has increased by billions since the $4.2bn (Dhs15.5bn) contract was awarded in 2005, the Business Standard has reported. The first phase of the mass transit system is scheduled to open on September 9. The cost overrun will be announced after the project had been finished, he said. Dubai hopes that once fully operational, public transport use will rise from 6% to 30% by 2020, with the Metro taking a 17% share.
Saudi to retender Landbridge project
Saudi rail authorities have confirmed they are retendering the $7bn Saudi Landbridge coast-to-coast rail link project on an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) basis, MEED has reported. A source close to the Saudi rail authorities has told MEED Riyadh it will now finance the scheme. The project will link the kingdom's Gulf and Red Sea coasts via the capital.
Dubai RTA begins Nol sale
Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has said that it has begun selling Nol Silver Cards to meet the multi-modal transit requirements of commuters using the metro, public buses and the water bus in Dubai. The card and the fare system will be activated, together with other services, on the opening day of Dubai Metro on September 9, 2009.
Q-Ship moots fleet expansion
Qatar Shipping Company (Q-Ship) has said the fall in prices of ships has created a golden opportunity for the company to expand its fleet through purchases, the Peninsula has reported. 'We expect the prices of vessels to fall further and we will choose the right time for buying ships. The company sold half of its fleet for some QR670m at the peak of the market. The same vessels that the company sold can be bought at half of the selling price,' K. K. Kothari, Q-Ship's CEO has said.
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