Gulf Industry
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http://www.gulfindustryonline.com/images/gi_gclogo.gif<![CDATA[Lower volumes dampen profits]]> Container volumes for 2009 period fell 8 per cent to 25.6 million teu across its 28 consolidated terminals. The Americas and Australia saw the biggest fall, sliding 15 per cent.
“As anticipated, all our regions handled more containers in the second half of 2009 than in the first half and the early signs of stability seen in the third quarter have continued into the final quarter of the year,” chief executive Mohammad Sharaf said in a statement.
Dubai World, which shocked global markets in November after requesting a standstill on $26 billion in debt, is the majority shareholder in DP World.
MAC Capital Advisors sees DP World posting a 2009 net profit of $323.3 million, a fall of 39 per cent.]]>
Ports operator DP World, a unit of state-owned conglomerate Dubai World, has said a decline in container volumes was likely to hit its full-year pre-tax profit but would be in line with market expectations.
Container volumes for 2009 period fell 8 per cent to 25.6 million teu across its 28 consolidated terminals. The Americas and Australia saw the biggest fall, sliding 15 per cent.
“As anticipated, all our regions handled more containers in the second half of 2009 than in the first half and the early signs of stability seen in the third quarter have continued into the final quarter of the year,” chief executive Mohammad Sharaf said in a statement.
Dubai World, which shocked global markets in November after requesting a standstill on $26 billion in debt, is the majority shareholder in DP World.
MAC Capital Advisors sees DP World posting a 2009 net profit of $323.3 million, a fall of 39 per cent.
Volumes down 10pc
Excluding the contribution from new terminals which joined the portfolio during 2009, volumes declined by 10 per cent, while across all 50 of its operational terminals in 2009 the port operator handled 43.4 million teu, a 6 per cent fall over 2008.
International shipping has been hit hard by the financial downturn, largely due to overcapacity caused by a construction boom that took place before the slump began.
“Predicting global trade trends in 2010 remains challenging ... whilst we expect to see container volumes improve we will continue to remain focused on growing revenues and managing costs to drive earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) forwards,” Sharaf said.
DP World said in January 2009 it was reviewing all expansion projects, cutting costs and freezing recruitment in view of the anticipated slowdown in 2009.
It cut around 1,300 jobs as part of previously announced 12,000 job cuts at Dubai World. The port operator, one of the world’s largest, is not part of Dubai World’s parent’s restructuring plans, and said in early January it planned to go ahead with the foundation stage of its postponed London Gateway project despite the market downturn.
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<![CDATA[GulfNav pleased with cargo volume]]>The Dubai-based company announced that the total cargo lifted during the year was 4.5 million tonnes, of which 1.9 million tonnes was crude oil equivalent to 14 million barrels.
Volumes for petrochemicals and dry cargo were 1 million tonnes and 1.6 million tonnes respectively, the company said.
Chairman of the company Abdullah Al Shuraim said the 2009 volumes added a greater value to the company’s potential in local and international markets.
“Despite the economic challenges that the whole world faced during the past year, GulfNav was still able to deliver what it had promised to its clients and business partners. It marked great results in terms of the number of voyages and total amount of cargo shipped, which really conveys our team’s dedication and enthusiasm in the field.”
The results of GulfNav shows the dominant international strength that the company has along with a high asset value that enables the company to be highly independent, Al Shurim stated.]]>
Gulf Navigation (GulfNav) announced its lifting and transportation volumes for 2009 exceeded its expectations. The Dubai-based company announced that the total cargo lifted during the year was 4.5 million tonnes, of which 1.9 million tonnes was crude oil equivalent to 14 million barrels.
Volumes for petrochemicals and dry cargo were 1 million tonnes and 1.6 million tonnes respectively, the company said.
Chairman of the company Abdullah Al Shuraim said the 2009 volumes added a greater value to the company’s potential in local and international markets.
“Despite the economic challenges that the whole world faced during the past year, GulfNav was still able to deliver what it had promised to its clients and business partners. It marked great results in terms of the number of voyages and total amount of cargo shipped, which really conveys our team’s dedication and enthusiasm in the field.”
The results of GulfNav shows the dominant international strength that the company has along with a high asset value that enables the company to be highly independent, Al Shurim stated.
Double-hull vessels
Per Wistoft, CEO of Gulf Navigation Holding, said the company was currently implementing the use of double-hull vessels only.
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<![CDATA[Gulftainer throughput up 10pc]]> Gulftainer group director and general manager Peter Richards commented, “We always knew that 2009 would not be an easy year and so it proved – but interestingly we were less impacted than many other terminal operators. Our strategy in 2009 was to continue to work even harder at ensuring that our shipping line customers had the best, fastest and most cost-effective performance that we could provide in a year when they needed us to help them save time and money.
The company expanded handling capacity deploying six additional shore gantry cranes at KCT during the year. SCT handles containers on behalf of over 30 shipping lines, including all of the world’s top 20 companies. ]]>
Sharjah-based terminal and logistics company Gulftainer has announced that throughputs at their UAE facilities – Khorfakkan Container Terminal (KCT) and Sharjah Container Terminal (SCT) – increased by nearly 10 per cent to 2.75 million teu in 2009.
Gulftainer group director and general manager Peter Richards commented, “We always knew that 2009 would not be an easy year and so it proved – but interestingly we were less impacted than many other terminal operators. Our strategy in 2009 was to continue to work even harder at ensuring that our shipping line customers had the best, fastest and most cost-effective performance that we could provide in a year when they needed us to help them save time and money.
The company expanded handling capacity deploying six additional shore gantry cranes at KCT during the year. SCT handles containers on behalf of over 30 shipping lines, including all of the world’s top 20 companies.
Transshipment port
KCT is strategically located on Sharjah’s Indian Ocean coast, outside the sensitive Straits of Hormuz and close to the main East-West shipping routes, and is one of the world’s leading container transshipment ports with numerous feeder ship connections to Gulf Ports, Iran, India, Pakistan and East Africa.
SCT, adjacent to Sharjah’s industrial area, handles containers on behalf of over 30 shipping lines, including all of the world’s top 20 companies.
Meanwhile, Momentum Logistics, a Gulftainer subsidiary, announced it has opened a new office and depot in Zakho, Northern Iraq, on the border with Turkey, as part of its network development strategy.
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<![CDATA[DDW-SEA gets contract]]> DDW-SEA operates four shipyards in Singapore and on Batam Island Indonesia providing offshore rig construction, volume shipbuilding and ship repair and conversion services. It currently has 14 offshore supply vessels under construction. Its flagship building is OSA Sampson, the second of two multi-purpose offshore construction vessels under construction at Drydocks World-Pertama shipyard for Coastline Maritime. The first vessel OSA Golaith was delivered in April last year and is currently operating in the Gulf of Mexico.
“OSA Golaith and OSA Sampson are in themselves ground-breaking vessels with capabilities worthy of their names. The new vessel takes the vision of Coastline Maritime to a new dimension,” stated Denis Welch, chief of DDW-SEA.
The vessel, designed by Coastline Maritime, will be larger than her sister ships and with a beam of 36 m it is sized to transit the Panama Canal following the planned widening of its lock gates. Like the OSA Golaith and OSA Sampson the new vessel will be caterpillar diesel-electric powered through a total of seven thrusters providing full DP3 capabilities.
She will also be equipped with 4,000 tonnes’ crane capacity, doubling the capacity of the existing vessels. Accommodation is provided for 400 crew on seven decks.]]>
Drydocks World Southeast Asia (DDW-SEA) has secured a new building contract with Scottish Highlands International, a subsidiary of Coastline Maritime, to build a 210 m ultra-large, multi-purpose offfshore construction vessel.
DDW-SEA operates four shipyards in Singapore and on Batam Island Indonesia providing offshore rig construction, volume shipbuilding and ship repair and conversion services. It currently has 14 offshore supply vessels under construction. Its flagship building is OSA Sampson, the second of two multi-purpose offshore construction vessels under construction at Drydocks World-Pertama shipyard for Coastline Maritime. The first vessel OSA Golaith was delivered in April last year and is currently operating in the Gulf of Mexico.
“OSA Golaith and OSA Sampson are in themselves ground-breaking vessels with capabilities worthy of their names. The new vessel takes the vision of Coastline Maritime to a new dimension,” stated Denis Welch, chief of DDW-SEA.
The vessel, designed by Coastline Maritime, will be larger than her sister ships and with a beam of 36 m it is sized to transit the Panama Canal following the planned widening of its lock gates. Like the OSA Golaith and OSA Sampson the new vessel will be caterpillar diesel-electric powered through a total of seven thrusters providing full DP3 capabilities.
She will also be equipped with 4,000 tonnes’ crane capacity, doubling the capacity of the existing vessels. Accommodation is provided for 400 crew on seven decks.]]>
<![CDATA[Grandweld wins deal]]>Grandweld is a division of GMMOS Group, a leading provider of marine services to the offshore oil and gas industry backed by Abraaj Capital and Waha Capital. Contracts have been signed with the ports of Algiers, Arzew and Skikda for the three vessels intended for sea search-and-rescue operations in co-operation with the Algerian Coast Guard.
“This contract for three 58 m salvage tugs is yet another achievement for Grandweld and has helped us maintain a strong and healthy order book into 2012,” said Jamal Abki, general manager of Grandweld. “International recognition, experien- ce, quality of work and commitment for on-time delivery at Grandweld are some of the strengths that helped us win this contract,” he added.
The vessels will each be delivered during the time frame between 26 and 31 months, Abki said.
Powered by two 4,000 kw diesel engines to achieve bollard pull of 130 tonnes, the vessels will be designed to meet unmanned machinery requirements with FIFI 2 and DP capabilities as per the requirements of the owners.]]>
Grandweld, a UAE-based shipbuilding, ship repair and conversion specialist, has said it secured a major contract worth $128 million for the construction of three new salvage tugs for Sogeport-GICEP of Algeria. Grandweld is a division of GMMOS Group, a leading provider of marine services to the offshore oil and gas industry backed by Abraaj Capital and Waha Capital. Contracts have been signed with the ports of Algiers, Arzew and Skikda for the three vessels intended for sea search-and-rescue operations in co-operation with the Algerian Coast Guard.
“This contract for three 58 m salvage tugs is yet another achievement for Grandweld and has helped us maintain a strong and healthy order book into 2012,” said Jamal Abki, general manager of Grandweld. “International recognition, experien- ce, quality of work and commitment for on-time delivery at Grandweld are some of the strengths that helped us win this contract,” he added.
The vessels will each be delivered during the time frame between 26 and 31 months, Abki said.
Powered by two 4,000 kw diesel engines to achieve bollard pull of 130 tonnes, the vessels will be designed to meet unmanned machinery requirements with FIFI 2 and DP capabilities as per the requirements of the owners.]]>
<![CDATA[Faster clearance]]> The container trucks and other commercial vehicles exiting from DP World’s Jebel Ali Port and Jebel Ali Free Zone will be now able to use Gate 3 following the official opening of an expansive, integrated clearing facility.]]>
DP World, UAE region, has joined hands with Dubai Customs and Dubai Municipality to provide speedier clearance of cargo through a dedicated inspection facility at the Main Gate 3 in Jebel Ali port.
The container trucks and other commercial vehicles exiting from DP World’s Jebel Ali Port and Jebel Ali Free Zone will be now able to use Gate 3 following the official opening of an expansive, integrated clearing facility.
Coordinated effort
The new complex, spread over 88,906 sq m, has been designed to facilitate quicker movement of cargo-laden vehicles by bringing together various departments and clearing authorities such as the DP World Documentation Section for issuance of e-gate passes, Dubai Customs for goods inspection and Dubai Municipality Food Control to check imported food items before they are released into the local market. The new-look Gate 3 complex provides parking space for 188 trucks and pick-up vehicles, including 30 inspection bays for container trucks plus 28 inspection bays for pick-up vehicles used by Dubai Customs.
Inspection bays
There are also another 29 inspection bays for container trucks to be used by Dubai Municipality in a separate area within the complex. A three-storey building accommodates DP World, UAE region and Dubai Customs offices, while a nearby two-storey block provides 1,586 sq m of space for materials detained by Dubai Customs.
The Gate 3 complex has two lanes for vehicles to enter the facility, and three exit lanes that lead directly to Dubai’s arterial road network in addition to one more exit lane for returning to Jebel Ali Free Zone. DP World has expanded capacity at Jebel Ali Port over the years and the latest complex will greatly help in modernising services and making them more convenient to all those who need to use the port.
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<![CDATA[Brief]]>Shipbuilding JV announced
Qatar Gas Transport Co (Nakilat) and Dutch firm Damen Shipyards Group are to jointly operate a shipbuilding facility at the Qatari port of Ras Laffan, the companies said.
Nakilat, the world’s largest shipper of LNG, and Damen have agreed to set up a joint venture 70 per cent held by the Qatari company and 30 per cent owned by Damen to run the shipyard.
Nakilat Damen Shipyards Qatar, the 15-hectare (37.1 acre) shipyard built on reclaimed land in the expanded port of Ras Laffan, will begin operations in the first quarter of 2010.
Neither company gave the value of the deal.
The shipyards will produce commercial vessels, naval and coastguard ships and luxury yachts of up to 120 m (394 ft) long. ]]>Shipbuilding JV announced
Qatar Gas Transport Co (Nakilat) and Dutch firm Damen Shipyards Group are to jointly operate a shipbuilding facility at the Qatari port of Ras Laffan, the companies said.
Nakilat, the world’s largest shipper of LNG, and Damen have agreed to set up a joint venture 70 per cent held by the Qatari company and 30 per cent owned by Damen to run the shipyard.
Nakilat Damen Shipyards Qatar, the 15-hectare (37.1 acre) shipyard built on reclaimed land in the expanded port of Ras Laffan, will begin operations in the first quarter of 2010.
Neither company gave the value of the deal.
The shipyards will produce commercial vessels, naval and coastguard ships and luxury yachts of up to 120 m (394 ft) long.
Maximus’ plans
Maximus Air Cargo, the UAE’s largest dedicated cargo aircraft operator, will make further inroads into the ACMI (aircraft, crew, maintenance, insurance) sector in 2010, said a top official of the company.
It will also focus on continued humanitarian work and the positioning of Maximus as a leader in safety standards, said Fathi Buhazza, the company’s CEO and president.
Maximus sales increased nearly 10-fold to nearly $100 million since its inception five years ago.
The company was selected by Etihad Airways to run scheduled cargo services. This service quickly expanded to 14 scheduled flight rotations a week plus additional ad hoc cargo charter flights.
Air Asia’s expectations
AirAsia, the largest low-cost carrier in Asia, which considers cargo as a major growth area for 2010, expects its cargo revenue to grow by more than 40 per cent over last year’s performance.
It is aggressively growing its markets and utilising special prorate agreements (SPA) with various airlines to achieve its revenue target for 2010, said a statement.
It is also reaching markets beyond its current route network through other airlines with which AirAsia has SPA agreements.
“We’ve been signing up more key players in the cargo industry,” said Sathis Manoharen, AirAsia regional head for cargo.
“Demand for our cargo space is picking up, and with AirAsia now up there among the world’s most recognisable brands and with the expanded reach that we have with our airline partners, more large companies are interested in our cargo services. Our competitive prices have allowed us to also increase business with individual senders.”