Rail link for Dubai under study

The next decade may see rail transport being introduced in Dubai if population growth merits it, the Municipality Director of Dubai's Planning and Survey Department has said. Abdullah Abdulraheem said the department was studying a mass transport system as an alternative to building more roads.

BA has new cargo website

British Airways (BA) World Cargo has launched its new website at www-baworldcargo.com giving instant access to information on latest operational schedules, aircraft cargo configurations and the ability to print bar code labels and track shipments online.

Record for DPA

Dubai Ports Authority's (DPA) container traffic rose eight per cent last year to a record 3.059 million TEU, thus maintaining DPA's regional leadership.

Saptco in profit

The Saudi Public Transport Company (Saptco) has reported a net profit of SR29 million ($7.73 million) for the year 2000 compared with SR27 million for the previous year.

Chinese ships for Saudis

China will build six ships worth $28 million for the Saudi Ports Authority (SPA), a local newspaper quoted Chinese Ambassador Wu Si Ke as saying. The China Gulf Corporation had signed the contract with the chairman of the SPA in this regard, he said. The ambassador said the China Gulf Corporation would build and deliver the ships to the Saudi Ports Authority within a year as stipulated in the agreement.

AHI opens new dock

Arab Heavy Industries (AHI) has opened its 30,000 dwt drydock in Ajman. Built with an investment of Dh72 million ($19.6 million), Al Zora drydock is equipped with modern facilities for enhanced operations and improved flexibility.

Q-Ship wins ISO certificate

Qatar Shipping Company (Q-Ship) has been awarded the ISO 9002:1994 certificate for quality management system by Det Norske Veritas (DNV) Netherlands under the accreditation of Dutch Council for Accreditation (RVA).

Saudi rail network to cost $2.6bn

The total cost of the railway network Saudi Arabia intends to build is estimated at SR10 billion ($2.67 billion), according to Dr Nasser Al Salloum, Minister for Transportation. The cost estimate includes construction, operations and maintenance.

WA Atkins gets port job

Oman has awarded the British firm WS Atkins Plc a feasibility study and design contract for its Khasab port. The construction of the RO10 million ($26 million) port, expected to boost trade with other Arab states and Iran, is expected to start in the last quarter of 2001. Oman already has two ports and is in the process of building another port in the northern city of Sohar. As part of its feasibility study, the consultant will look at the viability of expanding the existing port at Khasab into a modern facility capable of handling a range of vessels including feeder ships and passenger cruise liners.

Guanzhou cargo link

Emirates SkyCargo will now accept goods consigned to Guangzhou in China following an agreement with Hong Kong Airport Cargo Terminal to participate in a new bonded trucking service.

Before the introduction of the trucking service, shipments for Guangzhou were consigned mainly for Hong Kong, processed and then forwarded separately to Guangzhou, a procedure that took several days, with customs checks at both Guangzhou and Hong Kong, which is some 182km from Guangzhou. With the new agreement, goods are consigned directly to Guangzhou, trucked under bond from Hong Kong and customs-cleared at destination only, within_four to five hours.

EPC to replace GPA

The Emirates Postal Corporation will replace the General Postal Authority (GPA) as part of steps aimed at modernising, improving and privatising the postal service in the UAE. A draft law, approved by the Federal National Council, allows the corporation to keep a monopoly on a part of postal services in the country.

The law also allows the corporation to offer some financial services, including money transfer through post offices, postal cheques and insurance.

Rate agreement

Airlines using Dnata Cargo's Freezone Air Cargo Terminal (Fact) in the Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafz) have agreed to a common rate for Jebel Ali and Dubai International Airport. Six airlines - Emirates, KLM, Air Hong Kong, Cathay Pacific, Swissair and Air France - use Fact on a regular basis with more showing interest.

Some time ago, Fact was given an Iata three-letter location identifier - ZJF - making it an airport offline point. Using the ZJF location identifier and assigned airline flight numbers, shippers anywhere in the world can book cargo directly to end destination ZJF and show Jebel Ali Free Zone Air Cargo Terminal on air waybills as the point of end destination.

Survey ship for Bahrain

Bahrain's Ministry of Housing, Municipalities and Environment has acquired one of the most sophisticated ships for marine surveying. The BD300,000 ($828,000) Catamaran-class ship, built by the New Zealand company Qwest, will be used to prepare navigational maps by the national cadres of engineers and technicians.

Saudis seek WB plan

The Saudi General Seaports Authority has asked the World Bank (WB) to draw up a strategic plan for the future operation of Saudi ports to enhance their competitive capabilities, according to Dr Abdul Aziz Al Mane, Saudi Arabia's Minister of State, Cabinet Member and President of the Seaport Authority.

Black box analysis in UAE

An Indo-British company, Veesem Raytech Aerospace, which analyses black box flight data, has been given the go-ahead to set up a Middle East facility in Fujairah Free Zone Authority.

Adnatco to take sake on Basco

The Abu Dhabi National Tanker Company (Adnatco), a wholly owned subsidiary of Adnoc, plans to participate in the equity of a new Islamic shipping firm, the Bakkah Shipping Company (Basco) based in Jeddah.

Cargo upswing for Emirates

Cargo operations of Emirates airline are on course to realise over 25 per cent growth for the financial year ending March 2001, a senior official has said. This will be atop the 28 per cent jump recorded in 1999-2000.

The growth forecast is based upon the numerous products being launched in this sector, spearheaded by the SkyChain package to facilitate e-commerce in the freight industry, said Jassim Saif, UAE cargo manager.

FedEx imposes fuel surcharge

Federal Express (FedEx) has imposed a two per cent fuel surcharge for packages originating in certain Europe, Middle East and Africa (Emea) countries due to continued high fuel costs. The countries affected by the surcharge in the Middle East are Bahrain, Kuwait, the UAE and Turkey, the company said in a statement.

UPU advice for Qatar

The Universal Postal Union (UPU) is willing to provide advice to Qatar Posts on postal reforms and modernisation, a senior UPU official has said. With technology becoming a tool for rapid growth, Qatar Posts can benefit from UPU's expertise as a specialised agency of the United Nations, Maria Libera, deputy head of marketing of the Berne-based UPU, said

Open 24 hours

Fedex has begun offering a 24-hour customer service throughout the week at FedEx call centres in the UAE, Kuwait and Bahrain.

The courier company also announced it will offer round-the-clock courier pick-ups in these countries. In addition a 24-hour package drop-off option will be offered at selected locations in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Customers in Kuwait and Bahrain will have the option to drop off their packages as late as midnight. The company said it was offering the service in response to the growing demand for round-the-clock customer service and courier pick-ups as well as extended drop-off times for customers in the UAE, Bahrain and Kuwait, providing easy access to FedEx services at all times.

IICL reefer courses

The Institute of International Container Lessors (IICL) will hold two intensive three-day reefer courses in 2001. The organisation has also launched a joint project for developing a training video on the inspection of intermodal chassis and trailers and announced the appointment of a full-time director of technical services and the reorganisation of the technical committee that will henceforth be called the technology committee. One of the reefer courses will be held in Miami, US, and the other in Shanghai, China, the organisation announced. The dates will be announced on the IICL website. This is the first time that the institute will offer two reefer courses in a single year.

K Line launches OCDS

Japanese shipping service Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha (K Line) has started a one-click documentation service (OCDS) under which customers are able to complete the settlement of ocean freight charges and receipts of original ocean bills of landing (OBLs) without having to come to a window counter. Customers can electronically transfer ocean freight charges from their account to ours and complete ocean freight payment. Upon completion of the electronic payment they are entitled to automatic printing and receipt of an original Ocean/BL with a PC-linked printer.

K line operates 26 liner routes between the Far East and Europe, Central and South America, Australia, Africa and North America.

Call centre

A dedicated call centre that Dnata Cargo is setting up will provide customers with a one-stop shop for information covering all its cargo terminal services, the company said. It replaces the current help-desk functions and will be manned round the clock to provide status information on export and import shipments as well as general information on all cargo terminal operations.