Gulftainer Company Limited

OPERATOR’S EFFICIENT SERVICE DRIVES CONTINUED GROWTH.

Gulftainer Company Limited (GTL), the largest privately owned ports operator in the world, based in Sharjah, have announced that throughput at their Sharjah terminals – Khorfakkan Container Terminal (KCT) and Sharjah Container Terminal (SCT) - has increased by over 23% from January 2012 to July 2012 compared with the corresponding period last year and are estimated to exceed 3.5 million TEUS in 2012.

This remarkable performance, forecast to continue throughout the rest of the year, means that Gulftainer will continue to break its own records despite the global economy going through yet another difficult year. The accomplishment, according to published industry figures, means that Gulftainer’s Middle East ports have been the fastest growing ports in the region over the last 4 years. While many regional players posted results of below 10%, Gulftainer has continued to show double-digit growth.

Gulftainer Group Managing Director, Peter Richards, commented, “Gulftainer continues to work closely with our customers in order to continue this good work. We are absolutely delighted to have achieved such successful results for the year to date. The volume increases in KCT and SCT are an obvious reflection of the trust that customers place in us.”

“These records set by Gulftainer demonstrate the increased volume of trade in the area and we remain very optimistic about prospects for the whole region in the coming years. As we continue through 2012, with the help and support of the Sharjah Ports Authority, we can look forward to a prosperous year ahead as we improve our facilities and increase equipment levels to deliver consistent operational performance to all our stakeholders,” he added

Gulftainer management put this sustained consistency down to the ability to be flexible and swift to act. “Gulftainer goes the extra mile to ensure that we are in contact with all customers on a regular basis, we listen to what they have to say and act on what we hear. This means that we pick up market information and detail early and because we are agile in our decision making, we can react quickly in order to satisfy the demands of our customers and the market,” Richards commented.

An increase in export volume from the Middle East countries has also resulted in additional full volumes through Gulftainer’s facilities, requiring terminal layouts to be reviewed and revised. The co-operation of shipping lines together on services has resulted in the need for increased dialogue and co-ordination between the terminal operators and the Lines.

Gulftainer Group has been operating in the UAE and around the world for over 35 years. In the UAE it operates three main UAE ports: two on behalf of the Sharjah Port Authority - Sharjah Container Terminal (SCT) and Khorfakkan Container Terminal (KCT); and one in Ruwais, Abu Dhabi, on behalf of the international plastics solutions company, Borouge.

Gulftainer has been able to maintain a strong position in the UAE through its ports at Sharjah and Khorfakkan, and KCT was named 'Shipping Port of the Year' at the Annual Supply Chain and Transport Awards (SCATA 2011) in Dubai. In recent years Gulftainer has also invested in Iraq, Russia and now Brazil, with the company recently welcoming the first vessel into its Recife Port facility.

Gulftainer, one of the world’s largest privately owned port management and logistics companies has recorded a 24 per cent overall increase on trade volumes in 2012 when compared with 2011.

Its Sharjah ports saw the greatest volumes throughout the year, with Khorfakkan Container Terminal seeing growth of 28 per cent on its 2011 figures with a staggering throughput of over 3.3m TEU. The consistent organic growth of Gulftainer is the largest of any Middle East port operator, with trade volumes more than tripling in the past decade.

The company’s portfolio covers three UAE operations, Khorfakkan, Sharjah and Ruwais, as well as in Iraq at Umm Qasr, Recife in Brazil, and the recently acquired Tripoli Port in Lebanon, with further plans across the Middle East and international territories for 2013.

"The past year has seen growth across a number of our operations, as well as expansion of current and new locations,” says Peter Richards, group managing director, Gulftainer. “Khorfakkan Container Terminal accounted for a majority share of trade volume and continues to see phenomenal throughput with 28 per cent growth in 2012 in its own right."

For 2013, Gulftainer has already moved forward with further expansion plans within existing operations to allow for greater capacity and the increasing size of vessels now requiring access to the ports.

"Our figures are indicative of the UAE’s growing influence as an import and export hub, and even more so of the east coast’s popularity for containership operators,” continues Richards. “This is an exciting time for the company, as we increase our footprint both locally and globally, and we anticipate similar double digit growth again in 2013."

Sharjah-based international ports management company Gulftainer played host –and sponsor– to the inaugural Port Finance International Middle East Conference, which was held from 6 to 7 December 2011 at the headquarters of the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI).

The opening keynote speech for the conference was delivered by HE Abdullah Al Saleh, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Trade for the UAE, and a variety of presentations were delivered on the finance, investment, and port and logistics environments in the region and beyond, including one by Gulftainer Group Commercial Manager, Keith Nuttall.

Building on the success of PFI events around the world (recently held in London, Istanbul, Singapore, Mumbai, and Copenhagen) the inaugural Port Finance International Middle East Conference highlighted current trends and challenges in financing port infrastructure development, and investigated, analysed and provided guidance on the latest developments, investments and future plans in the strategically positioned Middle East region.

Over two days this conference brought together key industry experts from the Port and Terminal industry and from the Banking and Legal world to provide delegates with an in-depth understanding of innovative financing solutions and practical advice. It also provided an excellent opportunity to meet potential equity and business partners, as well as senior executives from port authorities, port and terminal operators and the legal and banking industries to discuss finance options and development requirements.

Speaking of the importance of the event, Gulftainer Group Managing Director, Peter Richards, said, "The ports, terminals and shipping industries are undergoing major changes as they seek to move forward in a straitened financial climate and with revenues under pressure and costs rising. This event presented highly qualified speakers showcasing the latest shipping, port and investment developments, at a time when the world's economies are facing unparalleled challenges. As the inaugural Port Finance International Middle East Conference, the event was a resounding success, and the participants look forward eagerly to the next event in the region".

Helping participants in the conference to get a clearer picture of rapidly changing events were, amongst others, Gulftainer, the National Bank of Abu Dhabi, Merrill Lynch, IFC, RSGT, Port of Salalah, Qatar Ports, Clarksons, and Abu Dhabi Terminals.

Gulftainer Group has 35 years experience operating in the UAE and around the world. In addition to operating three UAE ports: two on behalf of the Sharjah Port Authority - Sharjah Container Terminal (SCT) and Khorfakkan Container Terminal (KCT); and one in Ruwais, Abu Dhabi, on behalf of the international plastics company, Borouge, Gulftainer also operates and manages a number of projects and investments in several countries, including Iraq, Pakistan, Russia, Brazil, Africa and Turkey, with other ventures worldwide currently being evaluated. Gulftainer’s logistics subsidiary, Momentum Logistics, was established in 2008 to take over the Group’s transportation and logistics business and has offices throughout the Middle East.

GULFTAINER EYES INT'L MARKETS TO SUSTAIN STRONG GROWTH IN YEARS TO COME

Gulftainer, the world’s largest privately-owned ports operator, is upbeat about the shipping industry and the company is confident of sustaining strong double-digit growth this year, its top official said.

The Sharjah-based firm has seen phenomenal growth throughout 2012, with many expansion plans brought forward, including the Sharjah Container Terminal, or SCT. It eyes regional and international markets in 2013 to sustain the business growth in years to come.

“International expansion remains a focus for Gulftainer in 2013, having confirmed contracts in Russia, Lebanon and Brazil recently. India, Africa, the eastern Mediterranean and America remain key focus areas in addition to our existing developments. This is a strategy we expect to continue with into 2013 and beyond,” Peter Richards, managing director of Gulftainer, told Khaleej Times in an interview.

Gulftainer, a subsidiary of Crescent Enterprises, is a rapidly-expanding, dynamic ports and logistics company now operating in various parts of the world. The Gulftainer Group operates and manages ports and logistics businesses in several countries, including the UAE, Iraq, Pakistan, Russia, Brazil and Turkey.

The privately-owned UAE enterprise, which was established in 1976, has been particularly active in the ports and logistics business in international markets. Recently, it announced a $300 million investment in Russia to develop the Ust-Luga port in Leningrad Oblast, 110 kilometres from St Petersburg.

The consistent organic growth of Gulftainer is the largest of any Middle East port operator, with trade volumes more than tripling in the past decade. — Supplied photo

“We also expanded our geographical footprint in 2012 by establishing a new venture, Gulftainer Brazil, at the Port of Recife in Brazil, which has already received the first general cargo and container vessels,” said Richards.

He said Gulftainer Brazil handled its first shipments during the year of both container vessels and general cargo and brought a new lease of life to the Port of Recife.

“We expect Recife to experience a record-breaking year in 2013 and Gulftainer will be keeping a watchful eye over an exciting South American coast line,” he said.

“Likewise, we expect the operations in Tripoli in Lebanon to experience a successful year; the initial response back from the shipping lines has been very positive indeed and many of the lines are eager to support us here as well,” he added.

STRONG GROWTH AHEAD

Richards said 2012 was a positive year and the company is confident to record strong growth in 2013. The consistent organic growth of Gulftainer is the largest of any Middle East port operator, with trade volumes more than tripling in the past decade.

“Both terminals — the Khorfakkan Container Terminal [KCT] and the SCT — performed exceptionally well in 2012 and have seen increase of 28 per cent in cargo volumes. Whilst Khorfakkan serves the region at large, Sharjah provides a very specialised and valuable service for businesses in Sharjah and neighbouring emirates.”

“Over the past few years, we have continuously grown at a stronger rate than the global market average. With new contracts recently confirmed, including at the Port of Tripoli, we would anticipate that company growth in 2013 will be strong and over 18-20 per cent for containerised traffic alone. We expect much stronger growth for non-containerised traffic especially in Brazil and Iraq,” he added.

In reply to a question, he said the SCT is now hosting berths of a depth of 12.5 metres and 180,000 square metres of storage, with additional storage facilities planned for 2013.

About Khorfakkan, he said a new container freight station has been created for additional container packing and unpacking services, with additional handling equipment to support these activities.

“At Khorfakkan, there has been a recent multi-million dollar investment in ship-to-shore cranes, reachstackers, tugmaster and trailer combinations. Terminal layouts have been reviewed and revised to ensure the best use of space and facilities,” he added.

In reply to a question, he said Hanjin-NYK FMX and CSAV Norasia’s Galex services were additional services secured in 2012, with all now calling at the KCT.

“We have long standing relationships many of the world’s major shipping lines, including but not limited to CMA-CGM, UASC, MSC, Hanjin, China Shipping and Maersk Line.”

He said the introduction of ultra-large container carriers that can be handled at the KCT was a key reason for Gulftainer’s success in 2012.

“In January 2013, our KCT team handled the CMA CGM Marco Polo, presently the world’s largest container ship at 16,020 TEUs, in record time.”

He said Sharjah continues to grow in terms of its position as a business hub for the UAE, particularly within the industrial sector. Sharjah houses 29 per cent of the UAE’s industrial industry companies, and contributes eight per cent of the UAE’s non-oil gross domestic production.

“Gulftainer has always been proud to have its roots in Sharjah and contribute to its growing economy.”

UAE SHIPPING STAYS BUOYANT

Richards said the UAE’s shipping industry has generally been buoyant, largely due to the country’s position as an international business hub and with a significant volume of cargo being transported through its ports.

“As with any economy that is highly reliant on the export of crude oil, the shipping industry is also at risk from any fluctuation in oil prices, however, the stability and infrastructure of the UAE has helped to increase and secure business.”

“Emerging markets were a key factor for growth in 2012, and we anticipate this will be the case in the coming year. Iraq continued to also be buoyant for us, with Umm Qasr’s Iraq Container Terminal beginning operations. This terminal, equipped with two ship-to-shore gantry cranes, is expected to become the most efficient dedicated container facility in the port,” he added.

In reply to a question about the outlook for shipping industry he said: “We feel that 2013 will be about targeting growth in the right place, particularly through current emerging markets, such as South America, where we recently launched operations at the Port of Recife in Brazil.”

“In the UAE, we are expecting to continue the positive growth we experienced in 2012 and together with the support of our customers, believe that another year of double-digit growth has already begun.”

“We are particularly keen to see our volumes grow in Sharjah port where we will develop our IT connectivity between customers and the port community and will continue to offer a range of value added services to our customer base,” he added.

“We also have some very significant plans for our presence in the GCC and expect very soon to be able to confirm an even greater coverage in the area.”

To a question about the outlook for freight-forwarding business this year, he said the GCC’s transport and logistics sector grew 10 per cent in 2012, making it a $35 billion industry.

About the performance of Momentum Logistics, he said it has seen consistent success since it launched in 2008, and a major milestone for 2013 will be the opening of the Umm Qasr Logistics Centre, a 750,000 square metres facility adjacent to the Umm Qasr Port.

“This will provide an essential link within the supply chain for major energy companies that are involved in the construction of Iraq’s oil and gas production facilities, as well as those involved in the mega projects implemented to restore the Iraqi infrastructure,” said Richards.

The Sharjah Inland Clearance Depot, the 180,000 square metres bonded facility operated by Momentum, saw 100 per cent occupancy of its warehousing complex, with increases in both dry and refrigerated containers throughputs.

“The container freight station continued to see growth from African trade, with companies looking to take advantage of the bonded facility in order to have export cargo delivered, consolidated and packed for future export. To keep up with demand into 2013, the station apron is being extended by some 10,000 square.

Gulftainer, one of the world’s largest privately owned port management and logistics company, has further increased efficiency at Sharjah Container Terminal (SCT) through the development of an online application to automate information exchange between the Sharjah Port Authority (SPA), Customs and Gulftainer Company Limited.

The application will enhance existing customs procedures to ensure faster and seamless movement of containers through the port. SCT was the first purpose built and fully equipped modern container terminal in the Middle East, and currently handles cargo on behalf of over 50 shipping lines from around the world.

Peter Richards, Group Managing Director, Gulftainer said, “SCT has been growing at a fast pace and has seen an increase in the volume of cargo it has handled over the last 12 months. The new automated system has been developed keeping this growth in mind and as a result of listening to our customers. It will avoid unnecessary delays and ensure efficient access and clearance of all documentation work. This investment is part of our sustained and clearly defined plan for continued growth to remain competitive and ensure we offer our partners in the port an easy and hassle free experience.”

The new system will allow online verification of SPA issued documents and automation of customs forms, which was previously done manually. It will also enable better document control and provide a direct information access through the Container Management System (CMS).

World’s  largest containership makes its maiden call at Khorfakkan Container Terminal.

Sharjah, UAE – June 26, 2013:  Gulftainer, the world’s largest privately owned independent port management and logistics  company, welcomed CMA CGM’s Alexander Von Humboldt containership on its maiden voyage  and call at the Khorfakkan Container Terminal (KCT).

The Alexander Von  Humboldt, named after the German naturalist, geographer and explorer, is one of  the three explorer class container vessels belonging to CMA CGM, and the second  in a series after CMA CGM Marco Polo. Today, it is also one of the world's  largest containership at 16,020 twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU),  matching its sister ship, Marco Polo, which is a regular visitor to Khorfakkan.  The vessel is 396 meters long (length of four standard football pitches), 54  meters wide, with a draft of 16 meters and has the ability to carry some 16,000  shipping containers.

“In keeping with  the global trade demands, the maritime industry has been expanding at an  exponential rate with increasingly larger containerships,” said Peter Richards Gulftainer Company Limited,  Group Managing Director of Gulftainer.

At Gulftainer, we ensure  that we stay ahead of the demand and are well equipped to handle these giants  at our terminals. In fact, the Khorfakkan Container Terminal is one of the few  terminals in the Middle East with the facilities to handle mega-containerships  beyond the 16,000 TEU handling capacity.”    KCT reported a 26 per cent increase  in volume in 2012.

Following its UAE stopover,  Alexander Von Humboldt will proceed to Port Klang in Malaysia in early July, and  finally ending its maiden voyage at Ningbo, China by 10 July.

The vessel’s  arrival at KCT was marked with a presentation from Gulftainer’s UAE Terminals  Manager, Paul Hennessy to Master of the Vessel, Captain Slavko Malasic and Tony  De Costa, Regional Operations and Project Cargo of CMA CGM Khorfakkan.

Khorfakkan  Container Terminal is widely considered to be  amongst the most efficient terminals in the world, making it an ideal transshipment hub with connections to Gulf Ports,  Europe, Indian subcontinent and East Africa. Khorfakkan’s location makes it an  obvious choice for shipping lines with large transshipment volumes, which  require easy access to the UAE hinterland.

Namibian dawn

Infrastructure investment is beckoning a new era for Walvis Bay, as Aidan Grange explains.

The Namibian Government is investing heavily and also partnering with the private sector in its port and transport infrastructure upgrade programmes as it attempts to position the country as a competitive regional cargo hub and logistics centre for sub-Saharan Africa.

Critical to this objective is the development of a second container terminal at Walvis Bay, the building of a new railway link with Botswana and expansion of the Walvis Bay logistics corridor, which comprises the Trans-Kalahari, Trans-Caprivi, Trans-Cunene and Trans-Oranje links.

At a ground-breaking ceremony for the new container terminal earlier this year, Namibia’s president Hifikepunye Pohamba said: “The Namibian Ports Authority (Namport) is a strategic economic asset for this country and the NA$3bn (US$282m) expansion project is part of a long-term goal to improve our infrastructure and promote intra-regional trade.”

He stressed the significance of the bilateral agreement between Namibia and Botswana for the construction of the 1,500km railway, saying: “This will significantly contribute to and strengthen Namibia's position in terms of trade.

“In the same vein other landlocked countries will benefit from the railway as it will provide them with a choice of corridors to choose from. At the same time we are upgrading various roads that will also unlock economic benefits to the country."

Namport hope

But it is the new Namport Container Terminal (NCT), which is being developed on 40ha of land, that is viewed as being one of the most critical elements in the Government’s plan to raise the country’s trading profile.

NCT will add 600m of quay to the port’s existing 1.5km wharfage line raising in its overall container-handling capacity rising to slightly over one million teu a year. Currently, Walvis Bay’s annual design throughput is in the 350,000 to 400,000 teu range.

Funding for the project is in place with the African Development Bank (AfDB) having signed a sovereign guaranteed loan worth NA$2.9bn (US$272m) with Namport late in 2013. The terminal is being built by China Harbor Engineering Company Ltd.

In addition, AfDB has advanced about NA$ US$2.3 million (US$216,000) to the Namibian Government to support and encourage companies to invest in the infrastructure and systems needed to offer port users a wider range of value added freight and logistics services.

Grand ambitions

These activities are viewed as being important if Walvis Bay is to transform itself from a small port handling local and national cargo for a population of a little over two million people into a regional cargo processing centre serving Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Angola and even locations as far east as Guateng province in South Africa. The Southern Africa Development Community is home to at least 330m people.

Bisey Uirab, chief executive of Namport and chairman of the Walvis Bay Corridor Group (WBCG) - the public-private partnership established to promote the utilisation of Walvis Bay and its inland freight networks – said: “Our logistics hub provides a seamless transport and logistics solution to ensure that these potential consumers get their goods at the right time and in the most cost effective manner.”

He added: “We need to develop ahead of demand so that we can be a few steps in front of our competitors in capturing the region’s emerging business opportunities. We must modernise and transform our modes of transport as well as infrastructure, including IT systems, so that they complement each other to provide a seamless cost-effective service and push for non-tariff barriers in the region to be reduced.

“Our transport community must co-operate and commit to the logistics hub as a matter of priority so that we can make Walvis Bay the Singapore and Dubai of Africa by 2030.”

Walvis Bay’s logistics hub concept is an integral part of the WBCG’s plan to develop Namibia’s largest port as the preferred gateway for southern Africa.

Recently, Botswana Railroads (BR) opened a dry port in Walvis Bay. BR’s commercial manager Mthulusi Lotshe said the new facility, in which NA$60m (US$5.6m) is being invested, would “strengthen multimodal supply chain solutions and create opportunities for new services, while reducing total transport and logistics costs and journey times for the region."

The executive added: “Our objectives for the dry port are to improve cargo processing through co-ordinated operations, facilitate the collection and distribution of local, regional and international cargo and to better integrate Botswana and the SADC region into Walvis Bay port.”

Zambia connection

In Zambia, the government is focused on improving its transport links, with five main rail line corridors under development, including the construction of a link between Livingstone and Katima-Mulilo which in turn connects to Walvis Bay. Such a line would reduce the cost of moving goods to/from the southern and western regions of Zambia.

But highways are not being ignored, with the Road Development Agency of Zambia planning to build a new road linking the border town [with Namibia] of Sesheke with Mulobezi, Kaoma and the Copperbelt region of the country. This also borders Congo's mineral-rich Katanga Province.

The new routing will cut travel distances by a third to 800km, resulting in faster transit times and significantly reduced transport costs for cargo moving to/from Walvis Bay. Ultimately, this will raise the Namibian port’s overall competitiveness in this transit corridor and could lead to more importers/exporters selecting this routing option rather than traditional connections via South Africa.

Meanwhile, Namport is also planning to build an entirely new cargo-handling complex to the north of the existing port and located between the existing facilities and the town of Swakopmund. Dubbed the Southern African Gateway Port (SAGP), it will eventually comprise of 10km of berthing line and have the capacity to process up to 100 million tonnes of bulk cargo a year.

A bulk fuel storage and cruise terminal will also be developed within the 1,330ha complex in a project that is expected to cost in excess of NA$30bn (US$2.8bn).

According to Namport’s Mr Uirab, SAGB will be financed with a mix of state funding and private investment and be developed over several phases. To date, the Government has pledged NA$1.5bn for the construction of the oil storage facility which is expected to be completed during 2018.

Future plans

Namibia’s president Mr Pohamba views the new developments will boost the port’s throughput volumes substantially and sees the new container terminal and associated developments as allowing a doubling in volumes by 2017.

This represents a huge challenge. While Walvis Bay has emerged as an effective and alternative trade route for southern Africa, traffic volumes remain modest and a considerable number of beneficial cargo owners and logistics service providers use Durban in South Africa as their gateway into southern Africa. This is particularly the case for cargo moving to/from Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana and Asia.

Meanwhile, Transnet SOC, South Africa’s state-controlled company which owns/operates most of the nation’s ports, container terminals, freight rail and pipelines networks, is keen to extend its role across Africa with the primary objective being to attract more cargo to its facilities.

Despite the competition, Walvis Bay looks to be on track to become a bigger gateway for southern African landlocked nations.

Taking the coal line

Botswana’s coal mining industry is likely to be among the biggest beneficiaries from the construction of the 1,500km Trans-Kalahari railway linking the landlocked country with Namibia. The link will help to open up the vast reserves of coal – estimated at 212bn tonnes - in the eastern region of Botswana and provide a cost-effective supply chain solution to move that commodity to the port of Walvis Bay.

At a signing ceremony in March 2014 between the governments of Namibia and Botswana for the rail project, Erkki Ngmintina, minister of mines and energy in the Namibian Government, said: “The signing of the Trans-Kalahari Railway agreement provides an added impetus and lays the groundwork for industrialisation. It does not hamper existing gateways, but creates a new path for additional role players.”

Potentially, the port will see a substantial increase in cargo volumes and revenue, thus justifying Namport’s decision to invest in its Southern African Gateway Port project where at least 65m tonnes of coal exports alone are expected to be processed.

In addition to the railroad’s primary purpose of moving coal, opportunities are expected to open up for shippers/consignees of project, general cargo and containers and new intermodal railyards are expected to be developed, thus creating new transport options for Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Tom Alweendo, director-general of Namibia’s National Planning Commission, believes the new rail line will significantly boost trade between Botswana and Namibia, which he said amounted to less than NA$300m a year, excluding diamonds.

He also sees the railway and expansion of the port as assisting the WBCG’s SADC’s regional economic and social integration programmes.

It is hoped that the railway and associated infrastructure, which will cost between US$9bn and US$10bn to build, will become operational in 2019.

Gulftainer, the world’s largest privately owned port management and logistics company, welcomed the Yang Ming YM Xiamen to Sharjah Container Terminal (SCT) for the first call of a brand new service.

The YM Xiamen arrived for what will be scheduled weekly visits to SCT on the new Gulf feeder Service (TGS). The Gulftainer team were responsible for the movement of 377 TEUs, completed in just over three hours.

To mark the occasion Master, Capt. Huang Tze Show, of the YM Xiamen, was presented with a shield by Gulftainer’s Group Director of Operations, Steve Ogden, and SCT Operations Superintendent, Matt Thompson.

“The arrival of the YM Xiamen in Sharjah will have a significant effect on the Gulf Feeder Service,” said Peter Richards, managing director of Gulftainer. “The team is looking forward to further strengthening the relationship with Yang Ming and this will be a firm fixture at Sharjah for the foreseeable future.”

Gulftainer Company Limited, the largest privately-owned port operator in the Middle East, has recorded a 14% year-on-year growth in container volumes in the first six months of 2014 at its Sharjah Container Terminal (SCT).

Gulftainer stated that the growth in volume has been influenced by the booming United Arab Emirates - East Africa trade route, as well as new developments in Sharjah.

The strong performance of SCT shows that commerce is growing in the area, as the global economy continues to rise after the inevitable post-recession flatline.

Managing director Peter Richards Gulftainer Company Limited said: “The positive performance of SCT is led by the improved trade climate, specifically between the UAE and African nations. The port continues to be a popular choice for shipping lines as it offers a flexible and cost-efficient alternative to access the UAE hinterland.”

SCT’s decision to introduce an online application system to automate information exchange between the Sharjah Port Authority, Customs and Gulftainer has been vindicated, as the new feature has made port turnaround time much more efficient for shippers.

Gulftainer currently operates terminals in the UAE, Iraq, Brazil, Lebanon and Saudi Arabia.

Port management and logistics specialist Gulftainer has declared it has opted for Nexthink via its partner Anzemato to realise its plan to hit new growth targets by improving its IT infrastructure.

Gulftainer’s aim is to reach 35 terminals across five continents and handle around 18 million TEUs by 2020.

The ambitious project requires streamlined IT operations, with Nexthink, an end-user IT analytics specialist for security and workplace operations, meeting Gulftainer’s requirements.

The partnership means that Gulftainer will have total visibility of its IT environment, having the capacity to monitor changes on a daily basis to ensure safe and efficient port operations, as well as third-party logistics.

Vinay Sharma, group IT manager at Gulftainer, said of the move: "Real-time analytics from Nexthink brought significant benefits to Gulftainer and facilitated us to establish a more proactive IT support system that we did not have before.”

“We are able to implement compliance standards, IT governance, application standardisation, application use and real-time visibility of our IT infrastructure. Nexthink allows us to strengthen internal security, identify problems quickly and help support teams to provide faster response, lower-cost support while improving end-user satisfaction," Sharma added.

In many instances the arrival of Gulftainer Company Limited has not only radically changed the fortunes of an ailing port, it has also transformed the regional economy. A prime example is the port of Moroni, capital of the Comoros Islands where prior to Gulftainer taking up the concession, ships were taking four weeks or more to discharge their cargoes.

"We utilised a crane and barge operation along with the limited berth space enabling us to drastically reduce the time the vessels had to spend there," says Peter Richards Gulftainer Company Limited. "Within eight or nine months we were able to reduce the price of cement, sugar and even rice for the islanders because we were able to cut the cost of bringing those goods in," he notes, proudly.

It was a similar story at the Brazilian port of Recife, existing in the shadows of the modern port of Suape 70 km away, though Richards points out that Gulftainer's logisitics arm Momentum, set up in 2008, provided further impetus to the project.

"By offering a package we can detract from the fact Recife is a smaller port. By bringing in Momentum's expertise we can say 'call at out port and we'll arrange customs clearance, the actual processing and delivery to the end user, all done by us."

Momentum was set up in 2008, shortly before, in Richards' words, "the logistics world fell apart" in 2009.

"It has been nowhere near as rocket-fuelled as we had hoped," he admits, "but we have learnt some valuable lessons because we really had to fight to get business in the hugely competitive logistics environment in the Middle East. Momentum has got itself involved -- through our port operations -- in Iraq, Brazil, Turkey and Pakistan and now because of that international presence we are starting to see bigger jobs coming our way.

A major part of Momentum's business has been supply to Iraq -- both from Gulftainer's port and logistics city in the southern part of the country but also from the North, via Turkey. Richards is particularly proud that Momentum was selected as one of very few logistics companies authorised to supply goods in Afghanistan via Pakistan.

"Momentum Pakistan was selected after only being in existence for six months," he notes. "It took a lot of hard work to get such a tight set of requirements set by the authorities to qualify for the short list of recommended companies, and it showed me that with the right push Momentum can really achieve."

Momentum will also play a big role in Gulftainer's latest port concession in Tripoli, Lebanon, which could have a huge role to play in the overland transport of goods and materials needed throughout the Middle East. It will also create up to 1,000 much-needed local jobs, in keeping with its mantra to ensure that up to 98 per cent of its workforce is local, wherever possible.

Gulftainer's strong reputation in the UAE has led port authorities across the world to grant it concessions for operating their facilities

The UAE's largest private port operator has dramatic plans, which could 'virtually double the size' of the company, managing director Peter Richards Gulftainer Company Limited has said.

Richards is tight lipped about the details of the deal, which will be formally announced this month, but estimates that the expansion will thrust Gulftainer into the world's exclusive group of top port operators.

By doing so it would be in esteemed company, joining industry giants such as A P Moeller, Hutchison and ICTSI, and is the latest step in a carefully planned strategy that has seen Gulftainer acquire port concessions around the world since Richards was promoted to his current position in 2006.

"When I took over the reins of the company, I asked our shareholders permission to expand internationally on the basis that because of our reputation we were getting so many invitations from so many government organisations, port authorities and commercial partners the world over who were saying 'we have heard about you and our port is in need of an uplift, an expansion, an improvement and we would like to bring you on board to do it'," Peter Richards explains.

Gulftainer's productivity levels at Khorfakkan Container Terminal and Mina Khalid are considered industry benchmarks by shipping lines

"That became the start of Gulftainer International and from 2006 onwards we have taken on concessions in Africa, Brazil, Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon, Russia and Lebanon." The company was formed in 1976 to manage the newly-opened container terminal at Mina Khalid, the Middle East's first container terminal.

In 1987 Gulftainer was awarded the concession to operate Khorfakkan Container Terminal on the UAE's east coast, the same year Richards joined the company.

"When we started Khorfakkan we could see the potential for it becoming a transshipment hub for the area. So we promoted it on the basis that larger vessels -- which were about 2,000 teu (20-foot equivalent containers units) in those days compared to the 18,000 teu vessels we have now -- could transship their containers to smaller vessels at Khorfakkan and it could be a transshipment hub for the Upper Gulf and region," he explains.

"Khorfakkan Container Terminal has always attracted a lot of attention as shipping lines were trying to save money wherever they could. We concentrated on productivity -- on turning the ship around as quickly as possible -- and we developed not only a loyal customer base but also a reputation as one of the world's most productive port operators," Richards continues.

MEETING HELD IN PARTICIPATION WITH THE SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE ARAB ECONOMIC UNITY COUNCIL

Gulftainer Company Limited will be hosting the Board of Directors meeting of the Arab Federation for Freight Forwarders and Logistics (AFFFL). The board meeting and conference will take place between 10th and 11th November 2012 at the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI). It is the first time the meeting is to be held in the UAE and the high profile gathering will see the participation of freight and logistics leaders from across the GCC and the Middle East.

Ambassador Mohammad Al-Rabie, Secretary General of the Arab Economic Unity Council, will graciously attend the meeting.

On the hosting of this upcoming event Peter Richards Gulftainer Company Limited, Managing Director of Gulftainer said, “We are delighted to host the AFFFL board meeting in Sharjah. The meeting will focus on developing joint Arab cooperation related to logistics and transportation sectors. As Gulftainer is expanding regionally, we believe that regional cooperation and unification of regulations and procedures is of great importance to the logistics sector and will help to boost the trade between these countries.”

Richards also remarked, “The participation of the Secretary General of the Arab Economic Unity Council in the meeting, is a sign of trust in and support of the Federation in general and Gulftainer in particular. It is our hope that this trust will aid in relaying various recommendations to the Ministerial meetings of the League of the Arab Countries, in order to further facilitate the growth of this vital sector.”

The federation meets frequently with Arab Ministers of Transportation to discuss standardization of the industry in the Arab world. The Arab Federation for Freight Forwarders and Logistics (AFFFL), which operates under the Arab League, is considered one of the Council of Arab Economic Unity's Quality Federations, and also an advisory body to the Arab Ministers of Transportation. It has several activities; the most important of which is submitting suggestions and draft resolutions related to the transportation and logistics industry to the Arab League and Arab Governments.

- Middle East’s largest terminal operator set to exceed current growth targets

- Expands 2013 operations by 50 percent

Gulftainer, the largest terminal operator in the Middle East by number of terminals operated, expanded its operations by 50 percent in 2013 with increased investments in overseas interests and operations.

During the course of the year, Gulftainer accomplished a significant throughput of 6 million TEUs at its terminals. This achievement reinforces Gulftainer’s position as one of the leading operators in the Middle East and supports its goal of handling 18 million TEUs and operating 35 terminals across five continents by 2020.

Across the Middle East in 2013, Gulftainer’s facilities in Iraq and Saudi Arabia witnessed double digit growth and continued to gain momentum as markets expanded due to improved infrastructure and investment prospects. In Iraq, Gulftainer, which currently operates two container berths in Umm Qasr, anticipates an influx in new business opportunities this year as a result of the opening of the newly built 750,000m2 Umm Qasr Logistics Centre.

In Saudi Arabia, following the acquisition of Gulf Stevedoring Contracting Company (GSCCO) in June 2013, Gulftainer Company Limited achieved 34% growth at the Jubail Container Terminal, and saw the import markets grow by 10 per cent.

In the UAE, Gulftainer achieved a healthy three percent increase in cargo throughput over the last year. Its Khorfakkan Container Terminal (KCT), despite a slower year-on-year growth due to the loss of cargo impacted by the international sanctions, has grown at an average of 6.5 % per annum over the last five years.  In Lebanon, Gulftainer has begun civil works to develop facilities within the port of Tripoli and aims to start handling vessels by the end of the year.

On a global level, growth in Brazil has been significant with the first container traffic being handled in the Port of Recife in more than a decade. Trade is expected to grow significantly in the coming months as extensive investment and expansion plans are undertaken by the port authorities at Recife.

“The overall growth achieved in the last 12 months has exceeded anything we’ve done in previous years, said Peter Richards, Managing Director of Gulftainer. “We are at an exciting stage where we are being invited by port authorities to enter and establish our facilities in new territories. We are keen on extending our expertise in domestic and international markets to meet our growth strategy and are continuously reviewing new projects. We are confident of meeting our goals and with the long-term investments we fully intend to develop our market share and continue to break expansion records as we go.”

SHARJAH BASED PORT OPERATORS, GULFTAINER, HAVE BEEN AWARDED THE CONCESSION TO DEVELOP AND OPERATE A NEW CONTAINER TERMINAL AT THE PORT OF TRIPOLI IN NORTHERN LEBANON.

The concession will last for 25 years and start with a much needed initial investment of over USD 60 million in new equipment and machinery, including three Ship-to-shore Gantry Cranes, nine Yard Cranes and the latest technology in other container handlers and yard management systems.

This particular contract is part of a full infrastructure investment project for the surrounding area that will see many millions of dollars invested from both private and government sources.

Once complete, the new Gulftainer Terminal will be able to accommodate some of the largest container vessels operating in the Eastern Mediterranean, alleviating congestion at the Port of Beirut and providing an alternative to the beleaguered ports of Tartous and Latakia in Syria.

Not only will the terminal offer a new gateway for traffic into Lebanon, but Gulftainer, through its in-house Logistics Company, Momentum, can now link Tripoli to its facilities in Umm Qasr Port, Iraq. This represents the shortest distance across the Arabian Peninsula connecting the Mediterranean Sea to the Gulf avoiding the common choke points of the Suez Canal and Straits of Hormuz. It addition to the road network, it only requires 31km of track to be developed before the two ports can be linked by rail. When complete, the Gulftainer Terminal in Tripoli will provide over 300 new jobs as well as stimulating economic growth in the area.

Gulftainer’s Managing Director, Peter Richards said, “We are absolutely delighted to have been awarded the concession to manage the port of Tripoli and are now anxious to begin developing a strong partnership with the Port Authority. Gulftainer will be investing substantial resources and efforts into establishing what is required to improve performance levels and bring new business to the region. Gulftainer will take the lead with a partnership approach with our global customers, in an effort to improve efficiencies in the supply chain.”

Peter Richards joined Gulftainer in March 1987 and during his 26 years he has helped steer the company from unknown local, private terminal operator onto an international platform with an annual through- put of over seven million TEUs, a staff over 4000 and a reputation for yielding the highest levels of productivity to benefit the company's clients.

Gulftainer's recent acquisition of a majority shareholding in Saudi Arabia's GSCCO means the company will now operate the Northern Container Terminal (NCT) on the west coast of Saudi Arabia, Jubail Commercial Port (JCP) and Jubail Industrial Port (JIP) on the east coast. Through this acquisition, Gulftainer not only operates the highest number of terminals in the Middle East, but is also the only terminal operator in the region which provides access for shipping lines into the entire Middle East through the Mediterranean Sea, Red Sea, Gulf of Oman and Arabian Gulf.

Today the firm manages ports and logistics businesses in several countries, including the UAE, KSA, Iraq, Pakistan, Russia, Brazil, Lebanon and Turkey.

A New Era

When the Gulftainer company was first established in 1976, it was a modest and humbles business operating from their home in Sharjah, but little did they know that today, 37 years on, they would become one of the largest privately owned port operators in the world.

These recent years have been remarkable for Gulftainer with the addition of new facilities in Iraq, Brazil, Russia and Lebanon; however, with the latest purchase of Gulf Stevedoring Contracting Company (GSCCO), based in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the company portfolio has been elevated to new heights, to become the largest port operator in the Middle East.

In addition to its port facilities, Gulftainer operates freight and transport services at inland container depots (ICD) and logistics cities, through its third-party logistics (3PL) subsidiary, Momentum Logistics, along with joint venture interests across international territories, including Pakistan and Turkey. Momentum is now seeing continual organic growth in its own right. However, it is those humble origins that have allowed Gulftainer to grow in the manner it has; developing an industry wide reputation for the delivery of guaranteed levels of productivity and the assemble of a strong customer-focused team with well-rounded industry experience.

This is an exciting journey for Gulftainer, which is looking forward to strengthening its presence in Saudi Arabia in the coming years. The company truly believes that the quality and capabilities they are bringing to the management and operation of the local ports in the Kingdom will be invaluable to the growth of the nation.

Twenty five years ago Gulftainer operated just 4 ships to shore gantry cranes and by the end of 2013 will have the potential to operate over 75. Twenty five years ago Gulftainer employed a staff of 125; by the end of 2013 Gulftainer will manage 40% of all Middle East ports.

A true success story born out of Sharjah.

Gulftainer, the port management and logistics group headquartered in Sharjah, UAE, has named Peter Ford as its Group Chief Operating Officer (COO).

Peter Ford joins Gulftainer from his last position at APM Terminals where he was appointed to oversee the Port of Salalah as its CEO.

In his new role he will be based in the UAE and will focus on Gulftainer’s international operations and developments.

Peter Richards, Gulftainer’s Managing Director, said, “Gulftainer has experienced exponential growth in the  last twelve months. As one of the leading port management companies in the Middle East, we are well-positioned to expand in our local markets and to develop through new opportunities. Peter Ford’s appointment is in line with our goals to extend our footprint across regional and global markets in the near future. His successful track-record in global terminal management will be a huge asset to the team.”

Previously, Peter Ford has held a number of managerial positions within APM Terminals, including most recently the positions of Chief Operating Officer for APM Terminals European Region and Head of New Product Development project. His job experience includes postings to Jamaica, USA as well as the Netherlands.

Fluent in Dutch, German and English, Peter has a B.Sc. in transportation from the United States Merchant Marine Academy and an MBA from University of Phoenix, USA.

Global Portfolio aims for 35 terminals by 2020 across 5 continents handling 18 million TEUs annually, becoming a Top Six Global Container Terminal Operator.

Gulftainer, one of the world’s largest privately owned port management and logistics companies based in Sharjah in the UAE, unveiled today a new vision and identity as one of the most competitive and recognizable terminal operators in the World.

At the launch event, held at the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce in the presence of H.H. Sheikh Khalid bin Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, and H.E. Sheikh Khaled Bin Abdullah Bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Sharjah Ports Authority, the company also revealed a new brand identity, which reflects its expanding footprint into new international markets and a design that focuses on a spirit of partnership, strength, and reliability, three of Gulftainer’s core business pillars.

“From our humble roots nearly 40 years ago in Sharjah, we learnt that strong business values and operational efficiency were what the industry thrived on, and following this ethos we have successfully been able to export our expertise and professionalism from the UAE to numerous global key operational hubs since,” said Badr Jafar, CEO of Gulftainer’s parent company Crescent Enterprises and Vice-Chairman of Gulftainer.

“Our successes both at home and internationally have been achieved through the vision of His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah, who’s leadership enabled Sharjah to pioneer the ports industry in the whole of the Gulf with the first ever container terminal in the Arab World in 1972, and with the Emirate becoming one of the leading logistics hubs in the whole region ever since.” Badr Jafar added.

Having recently become the largest terminal operator in the Middle East in terms of the number of terminals operated, as a result of its majority acquisition of Gulf Stevedoring Contracting Company in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia which saw it take full management of the ports of the terminals of North Container Terminal Jeddah, Jubail Container Terminal and Jubail Industrial Port, Gulftainer senior management pointed out that its success of recent years has been a collaborative effort.

“The name ‘Gulftainer’ is already seen as a credible and reliable partner, and we wish to expand this partnership with our customers to new ports and terminals around the world,” said Gulftainer’s Managing Director, Peter Richards.

Gulftainer has seen consistent growth over the past decade, averaging more than 12 per cent compared to global market growth of 8.6 per cent in the same period. In 2012, Gulftainer’s terminal at Khorfakkan was the fastest growing transhipment hub in the world with 28% growth. This year, Gulftainer expects to surpass 6 million TEUs and current projections anticipate up to 18 million TEUs by 2020, handling more than 10,000 vessel calls each year.

Today, the company’s portfolio covers four UAE operations in Khorfakkan, Sharjah, Hamriyah and Ruwais, as well as activities in Iraq at Umm Qasr, Recife in Brazil, Tripoli Port in Lebanon, and its recent acquisition in Saudi Arabia, managing container terminals in Jeddah and Jubail.

Gulftainer has a vibrant and comprehensive portfolio of new terminal projects spread across the Middle East, Africa, Asia, North and South America. With further global partnerships in the pipeline, Gulftainer estimates its global footprint will target 35 terminals and a place in the top six Global Container Terminal Operators.

“We have grown close to our customers over recent decades and they have developed a trust in our performance as the most productive port operator in the world; our growth in the future will rely on their support and continued partnership as we work to retain and prove our capabilities on a wider stage,” Mr Richards added.

“Our new identity is a logical step that communicates to both current and potential customers that we will continue to provide products and services that consistently outpace our competitors. The future looks extremely exciting for Gulftainer, and we look forward to maintaining the Gulftainer track record established over the past 37 years of delivering best in class service and record breaking productivity.”

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN ...

It does not seem very long since I stood up in front of you to give a speech on the occasion of our Thirtieth Anniversary Celebrations - and I remember such functions well because as you know - public speaking is not my favourite occupation.

However it is in fact a year since our celebrations last November, illustrating the truth of the old saying, "that time flies" and also that so much has happened in the past year.

Developments for Gulftainer have included the expansion of our terminals at Khorfakkan and Sharjah, thanks to the support of the Sharjah Government and the Sharjah Port Authority - and as we all know these developments are now more necessary than ever, if we are to maintain our ability to provide a first class service.

Also we have consolidated our overseas activities in Kuwait, Pakistan and the Comoros, plus the recent acquisition of a Turkish logistics company, has now given us access to all of Europe.

Plans to develop transport and logisitic activities in Northern Iraq are also well underway.

To highlight this point, we are assembled here to celebrate the launching of our major new initiative, the foundation of a new company "MOMENTUM LOGISTICS" - destined to become a major industry player - not just in this region but worldwide.

As I was thinking about this event recently, particularly in the context of current worldwide economic concerns, "financial meltdowns and credit crunches" - it struck me once again how fortunate we are to be based in the UAE which as usual is showing itself to be a beacon of stability in this uncertain world.

We are proud to be a UAE company - a Sharjah company - and the start of this new venture causes us to think again of those qualities that have made the UAE the success it is today and the ones that we need to remember and emulate.

The new "MOMENTUM" with its dramatic plans for the future neatly aligning itself with the traditions of the past, reminds us that some things such as service, courtesy and reliability are just as much a requirement now and in the future as they always were and we should not forget that.

With the constant reminders of strong traditions from this region - Momentum's innovations and business plans go hand in hand with the deep rooted commitment to solid values and heritage that we as Gulftainer are proud to support in this country.

As His Highness The Ruler of Sharjah has so effectively shown, it is possible to remember and value the lessons of the past whilst ensuring that the country strides confidently into the future, providing the framework for new businesses such as "MOMENTUM".

So what is MOMENTUM and what are we aiming to do?

I will not steal Matt's thunder by talking in too much detail but essentially we have created a Transport and Logistics Company which will be a world leader in providing the framework for the most cost effective and efficient management and movement of products from "A to B".

For as you know - as the definition says:

"Logistics means having the right thing, in the right place, at the right time."

Momentum will be a third party logistics provider involved in:

- Transport

- Warehousing

- Container Repair

- Freight Forwarding

- Contract Logistics

- The management of Sharjah’s new Logistics City

Momentum will be a self-standing member of the Gulftainer group, providing services on a regional and worldwide basis impartially and independently for the benefit of its customers.

So, that's enough from me ...

I will now ask Keith to introduce the next phase of the evening and just take this opportunity to thank you for attending this event tonight.

UAE-based Gulftainer, a rapidly expanding ports and logistics company, has selected Nexthink, an innovator of end-user IT analytics, through its partner Anzema to support its growth targets by enhancing its IT infrastructure.

Gulftainer aims to grow its global footprint to reach 35 terminals across five continents and handle 18 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) by 2020.

Such an ambitious plan requires secured and streamlined IT operations. With Nexthink, Gulftainer will have complete visibility of its IT environment and will be able to monitor daily changes in the development of its IT activities to ensure safe and efficient port operations and third party logistics.

Furthermore, Nexthink will help Gulftainer to reduce the large number of PCs and applications currently being used in its business, thereby offering significant cost savings to the company, said Vinay Sharma, Group IT manager at Gulftainer.

“Real-time analytics from Nexthink brought significant benefits to Gulftainer and facilitated us to establish a more proactive IT support system that we did not have before.

“We are able to implement compliance standards, IT governance, application standardization, application use and real-time visibility of our IT infrastructure. Nexthink allows us to strengthen internal security, identify problems quickly and help support teams to provide faster response, lower-cost support while improving end-user satisfaction,” Sharma added.

“At Gulftainer, we prioritize efficiency and security compliance in our Global IT operations,” said Ramesh Shivakumaran, Group Director Business Services. “To consistently achieve best-in-class performance, our IT infrastructure and endpoints must be permanently available to ensure the continuity of business services delivered to our end-users and customers around the world.”

Ahmed Seleem, regional manager at Nexthink said: “An efficient and robust IT infrastructure is crucial for complex operations such as those run by Gulftainer which has a large number of end-users in various locations, such as administration or customs.

“With Nexthink, Gulftainer has the advantage of being able to monitor each and every IT activity from a single interface in real-time. This offers Gulftainer significant cost savings and reduced downtime, ensuring that its customer service outperforms competitors.”

Esslam Ibrahim, vice president at Anzema said, “We are proud to support Gulftainer’s vision to achieve best-in-class performance and expansion. The visibility and real-time IT analytics provided by Nexthink allows Gulftainer to easily detect the issues in its IT environment and prevent problems even before they are reported.”

Gulftainer is privately-owned by UAE-based conglomerate Crescent Enterprises. It operates and manages ports and logistics businesses in several countries, including the UAE, Iraq, Pakistan, Brazil, Lebanon, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and the US.