Our UAE operations include the ‘best in class’ (SCATA Awards) Khorfakkan Container Terminal (KCT) and Sharjah Container Terminal (SCT), as well as port operations and logistics in Ruwais Port in Abu Dhabi, where we manage the facility on behalf of the international plastics company, Borouge.

Our company’s international presence spans over 5 continents and includes the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Asia, and the Americas – with projects in Iraq, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon and Brazil having already commenced since early 2012. We are also currently assessing several potential new ventures.

In 2008, we launched Momentum Logistics, our fully integrated logistics provider (3PL), and currently ranked a Superbrand in its industry.

Gulftainer, which operates the SCT and KCT on behalf of the Sharjah Port Authority, will participate in the global event as part of its plan to ensure Far East exporters to the Middle East, shipping lines, traders and international organizations alike are aware that Sharjah is a more flexible, productive, gateway to this region.

"Our participation in this significant event is part of our plan to update the Asian market on Gulftainer's activities and the ports we're operating", said Gulftainer Director and General Manager, Peter Richards.

"With plans to expand our services and lend our expertise to even more worldwide locations, Gulftainer's growth, professionalism and expertise are set to continue to turn heads worldwide, thanks mainly to the highly productive operations and competitive prices in the ports we manage, when compared to neighboring gateways," he noted.

The influential and rapidly-growing Gulftainer has attracted the interest of other international ports wishing to duplicate the logistical success that Sharjah's ports are witnessing today. Which also reflects the health of the vibrant UAE economy.

The world's major port operating groups choose to participate in TOC because of its outstanding reputation as the key event in the global port and terminal calendar. The event will bring together executives from the port, terminal and shipping industries, as well as government agencies and other industry stakeholders, to discuss the evolution of global maritime trade and how to improve the performance of shipping, port and hinterland services to support trade growth.

Peter Richards is a qualified Master Mariner with Diploma in Nautical Science.

Peter Richards joined Gulftainer Co. Ltd. in March 1987. Prior to his current position of Managing Director of Gulftainer Co. Ltd., Peter has held the positions of General Manager, Operations Manager, Terminal Manager and Operations Superintendent within the Company.

Peter is also the Board Member and Director of Gulftainer Company Limited and a number of associate and subsidiary companies of the Group.

Peter has twelve years of seagoing experience and twenty-six years of expertise in the operation and management of Ports and Container Terminals.

During the 26 years he has been employed by Gulftainer Company Limited, he has been initially part of, and later in charge of, a diversified team which has steered the company from an unknown position of local, UAE, private terminal operator to the present position of an International Port Operator with an annual throughput of over 6 million teus. Operating ports which produce the highest productivity achieved on various major shipping line vessels, (CMA-CGM, Hanjin and UASC). He has gained the reputation of being able to operate a very tight ship with excellent productivity, whilst maintaining a loyal, long term staff. Gulftainer’s Management Team, under his command, are now the most successful privately owned port operators in the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia Region.

Under Peter’s leadership Gulftainer has diversified from simply a port operator to a fully comprehensive logistics supplier. During his tenure Peter has expanded Gulftainer’s global footprint into Europe, Russia and the South Americas. The reputation earned in its home ports has enabled Gulftainer to export its capabilities, experience and productivity world-wide. This commenced as soon as Peter took the reins in 2006 when he was able to win an on-going consultancy contract with the Kuwait Port Authority to shadow manage their port facilities.

Ramesh joined Gulftainer Company Limited in April 1993 and has held various positions in the Financial and Accounting department of the Company. Ramesh is also a Director and Board Member in various affiliate companies of the Group.

Ramesh has been previously employed with Ernst & Young, Dubai, UAE from 1988 to 1993 and Price Waterhouse, New Delhi, India from 1984 to 1988.

As a member of the Senior Management, Ramesh Shivakumaran has extensive experience and active involvement in planning, directing and overseeing all key aspects of financial affairs, financial reporting, treasury management, business planning, internal control compliance, corporate governance, risk management, business strategy, organizational development associated with information systems, IT infrastructure, Human resources, Administration, Compensation Management and Integrated quality management system for the company’s UAE and international operations.

We operate the most productive ports in the world, always staying close to what matters, always striving for a better turnaround - The turnaround of cargo, of trade and of fortunes for the world’s most promising new economies. We don’t just fuel their growth through improving efficiency.  Our people work in partnership to make sure that growth is real and sustainable.

We never walk away from a challenge or a commitment.  We listen to the needs and ambitions of those we work with and work for.  We know the landscape and are part of the chain of events, maximising value at every point.  Already proud operators of the world’s fastest terminal, we are in pole position to innovate at speed and on behalf of our partners to achieve success.

Gulftainer, a subsidiary of Crescent Enterprises and one of the world’s largest privately owned port management and logistics companies, today marked its expansion into the USA, as part of its strategic vision to operate 35 terminals in five continents by 2020.

Gulftainer secured a 35-year concession from Port Canaveral in Florida State to operate and further develop its container and multi-purpose cargo terminal. The deal was signed by and between John Walsh, CEO of Canaveral Port, and Badr Jafar, CEO of Crescent Enterprises and Chairman of Gulftainer’s Executive Board, at a ceremony held at Canaveral Port in the presence of 120 officials from the port and Florida State. Also in attendance was Michael Corbin, Ambassador of the USA to the UAE, and Saud Al Nowais, Commercial Counsellor from the UAE Embassy in Washington.

The terminal, set to commence operations in the fourth quarter of 2014, positions Port Canaveral as the most economical and convenient ocean gateway for containerised cargo in central Florida.

Under the terms of the agreement, Gulftainer will strengthen the terminal through a US$100 million investment in infrastructure, equipment and locally-sourced human capital. The new container and cargo terminal is expected to contribute more than US$630 million to Florida’s economy, US$280 million in revenue to Port Canaveral, and generate more than US$350 million in tax contributions.

On the occasion, Badr Jafar commented: “By bringing Gulftainer’s UAE-grown expertise and global relationships to Port Canaveral, we aim to create a new efficient and secure gateway for goods entering and leaving the southern Atlantic coastline of America.”

“Gulftainer will work with the Canaveral Port Authority to provide opportunities to the local economy by investing in infrastructure, processes and people. The Port Authority of Canaveral is one of the most respected in the country and has a reputation for professionalism that matches our values. Together, we will work to improve the processes and deliver outstanding value to our stakeholders.” Jafar added.

John Walsh said: “This agreement marks a new era for Port Canaveral.” “With work on the widening and deepening of the Canaveral Harbour currently in progress, the new container and multi-purpose cargo terminal will further underscore our credentials as one of the most important economic engines for our region, while providing value to Central Florida shippers and distribution facilities by lowering overall costs and offering more efficient links to the supply chain.”

Walsh added: “The arrival of larger ships and increased cargo handling will add significant value to Florida’s economy. Ports operated by Gulftainer are ranked first in Europe, Middle East and Africa and third globally in productivity by the Journal of Commerce Port Productivity Report 2013. We are confident of its ability to create tangible returns for Port Canaveral in a short span of time.”

Gulftainer has five pillars for success which have served the company well during these 38 years and they form the core of our work ethics and business strategy.

- Cost Leadership
- Operational Efficiency
- Service Flexibility
- Leveraging Existing Carrier Relationships
- Supply Chain Integration

Gulftainer prides itself on being an independent, privately owned port operator, which provides best in class service to all its customer segments. Our current asset portfolio and future investments are based purely on their merits and not tainted by the need to fit in with vested interest agendas.

Gulftainer is no ‘here today gone tomorrow,’ fair-weather partner, we never walk away from a challenge or a commitment, Listening to the needs and ambitions of those for which we work with and for. We know the landscape and are part of the chain of events, maximizing value at every point.  The company is big enough to make a difference – small enough to have senior managers directly involved in all issues, always engaged to make effective decisions.

The international reputation of Khorfakkan and Sharjah Container Terminals despite powerful local competition is clear evidence of the success of this policy. Many port authorities throughout the world have sought Gulftainer’s expertise, this is why today Gulftainer operates 8 terminals within the Middle East, the highest of any other operator in the region, and has taken its first steps into Europe and South America.

We are also currently in discussions with several other Port Authorities all of whom have come to Gulftainer precisely because of this well-deserved reputation for achieving good performance and working co-operatively with Port Authorities for long term solutions and mutual benefit.

The CMA-CGM explorer class vessel MAGELLAN has been transformed into a work of Art by world-renowned artist, JR. Gulftainer welcomed the vessel to its Khorfakkan Container Terminal on July 18th where these photographs were taken.

About Gulftainer Company Limited

Established in 1976, Gulftainer Company Limited is the largest privately owned port management and 3PL logistics company in the world, based in United Arab Emirates (UAE), and for more than 35 years, we have been delivering world-class performance to our customers.

Our UAE operations include the ‘best in class’ (SCATA Awards) Khorfakkan Container Terminal (KCT) and Sharjah Container Terminal (SCT), as well as port operations and logistics in Ruwais Port in Abu Dhabi, where we manage the facility on behalf of the international plastics company, Borouge.

Our company’s international presence spans over 5 continents and includes the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Asia, and the Americas – with projects in Iraq, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon and Brazil having already commenced since early 2012. We are also currently assessing several potential new ventures.

In 2008, we launched Momentum Logistics, our fully integrated logistics provider (3PL), and currently ranked a Superbrand in its industry.

OUR VALUES

Back in 1976, when containerisation was in its infancy, Gulftainer and the Sharjah Port Authority built and operated the first container terminal in the Arab world. The arrival of the vessel, MV Tarek was a significant milestone in transport history. This is how the Gulftainer story began, 37 years ago.

Throughout Gulftainer’s history, we have continued to improve and develop our ports to serve Sharjah, Dubai and the other Northern Emirates with our hallmark efficiency and productivity, and in recent years, we have exported this to a growing number of locations. This will be the way we continue our journey in the future, by continuing to invest in and developing our home ports of Port Khalid and Khorfakkan and at the same time, exporting the same values we have been able to create here, to new markets globally.

Gulftainer Head Office Has Gone Into Partnership With The Sharjah Based Bee'ah - Gulftainer’s recent efforts to increase its recycling efficiency, have been rewarded as senior management welcomed a delegation from Bee’ah, who presented a certificate to recognise the Company’s ongoing commitment to improving the environment.

Bee’ah is the Middle East’s largest and award winning waste management company, also based in Sharjah, and their team, Saif Abdulla Al Sharif, Director of the Recycle Business & Collection, Muhammad Musa and Hasim Kathiri, met with Gulftainer’s Managing Director, Peter Richards, Director of Business Services, Ramesh Shivakumaran and Group QHSE Manager, Magimairaj Bose, to present the award and discuss further initiatives. 

Some of the initiatives now in place within the Gulftainer workplace include: recycling paper, plastic, e-wastes in the offices and oils, batteries and tyres in the engineering departments to name just a few. The company no longer disposes of any of its wastes into landfill.

Peter Richards, Gulftainer managing director said: “We are delighted to accept this certificate from Bee’ah and to be able to play our part in making the Emirate of Sharjah a greener environment. As a company we believe it is our responsibility to lead by example and to increase awareness of the impact of using the 3 R’s (reduce, re-use, recycle) in the work place and beyond.  We hope that these initiatives will highlight just how easy it is to make a difference.”

Gulftainer has considerable expertise in the area of operating Logistics Cities, having set up and operated such cities in the UAE and in Iraq. Sharjah Inland Container Depot is a part of this development, and covering an area of almost 140K sqm, it is a city within a city, comprising of 35 warehouses, bonded Customs and Health Inspection facilities, stripping and stuffing areas, Repair facilities, an office park for Liner Agencies and large open areas for container storage.

Development is also ongoing on the International Logistics City at Al Saja’a in Sharjah, UAE. This will a 650,000 m2 facility with office parks, distribution centers, Trailer parks, housing facilities and other life support services as required in such mega projects. It is expected that the City will commence development within the year.

Gulftainer Company Limited has also developed the Umm Qasr Logistics Centre, a 750,000 sqm facility north of the port of Umm Qasr in Iraq. This facility is serving mainly to the Oil , Gas and Energy sectors and has secure warehousing and storage facilities, all under bond. With in-house Customs and IPA offices, customers can use the facilities as a one stop shop for all their logistic needs.

Gulftainer selected Nexthink to deliver real-time IT analytics from the end-user perspective. Nexthink allows Gulftainer to have complete visibility of its IT environment and detect anomalies in real-time, helping the IT team continuously monitor workstation compliance and ensure alignment with Gulftainer’s IT requirements.

ABOUT GULFTAINER

UAE based company Gulftainer is the largest terminal operator in the Middle East by number of terminals operated. Its international presence spans over three continents including the Middle East and the Americas. For more than 35 years, Gulftainer has been delivering world-class performance to its customers, continually striving for a faster turnaround of cargo, trade and fortunes for promising new economies.

To achieve its goal of sustainable growth, Gulftainer continues to enhance its performance as the most productive port operator and third party logistics provider, ensuring that its customer service outperforms competitors in the markets in which it operates. In 2013 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.

CHALLENGES

To support its vision to consistently achieve best-in-class performance, Gulftainer prides itself leveraging the latest technologies. With a large number of end-users in disparate locations having diverse profiles (administration, customs, etc.), an efficient IT infrastructure is crucial for a high standard of operations. In addition to traditional business critical applications such as ERP, CMMS, TOS, messaging, mailing, active directory and core applications of IT infrastructure, Gulftainer wanted to standardize the hardware and software in its IT environment and reduce the large number of PCs and applications currently being used to what was necessary for the business.

Gulftainer constantly strives to protect its IT environment against security threats and educate end-users on IT risks. To enhance the security of its IT infrastructure and improve end-user productivity Gulftainer needed a solution that could provide visibility of its IT infrastructure and endpoints across its several global locations.

CHOOSING NEXTHINK

Gulftainer’s IT solution provider Anzema presented Nexthink as a unique solution to deliver real-time IT analytics from the end-user perspective. Nexthink allows Gulftainer to have complete visibility of its IT environment and detect anomalies in real-time, helping the IT team continuously monitor workstation compliance and ensure alignment with Gulftainer’s IT requirements.

With Nexthink, Gulftainer can retrieve reliable information on the performance of each workstation and its interaction with the IT infrastructure. Nexthink dashboards are used to group and summarize data collected and present them in an understandable way to Gulftainer’s management, facilitating their decision-making.

“Our partner Anzema was able to properly address our business needs and identify Nexthink as the best solution to meet our requirements,” said Vinay Sharma, Group IT Manager at Gulftainer.“Together Anzema and Nexthink have exceeded our expectations.”

BENEFITS

Nexthink’s solution monitors daily changes in the development of Gulftainer’s IT activities to ensure safe and efficient port operations and third party logistics. The visibility and real-time IT analytics provided by the Nexthink solution allows Gulftainer to easily detect any issues in its IT environment and allows the company to solve and prevent problems that may affect one or more end-users, even before they are reported. 

“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.”

“Real-time analytics of the Nexthink solution have brought significant benefits to Gulftainer and facilitated the establishment of a proactive IT support system which we did not have before,”said Vinay Sharma, Group IT Manager. “We are able to implement compliance standards, IT governance, application standardization, application usages and real-time visibility of our IT infrastructure and endpoints. Nexthink’s solution has allowed us to strengthen internal security, identify problems quickly and support teams to provide a faster response, lower-costs while improving end-user satisfaction.”

“Nexthink is a valuable asset in improving our IT Security,” said Jurageswaran Shetty, IT Security Manager at Gulftainer. “We have enhanced our IT operations and support, reducing the number of incidents whilst simultaneously resolving problems faster. Nexthink’s solution has given us better control over our IT infrastructure, so we can ensure our business performance and security compliance remain at a high level.”

Gulftainer Company Limited is one of the few global terminal operators who have also invested heavily in Inland Container Depots globally. Gulftainer owns and operates the Sharjah Inland Container Deport (SICD), UAE and the Umm Qasr Logistics Center ICD, Iraq. These ICDs not only act as an extension to our seaport facilities but also help in the supply chain integration to our customers providing value added services like transportation and storage, general and bonded warehousing, empty handling and several value added services.

Going forward, Gulftainer plans to utilize its global presence to further extend capacities, expand its presence in new inland locations with the backing of a strong management team, and look at new avenues and verticals to become an all-encompassing service provider in the logistics industry of the countries we operate in.

Gulftainer has for many years actively participated in several social and charitable initiatives within the UAE and particularly Sharjah region. A number of sport and educational bodies in the region have benefited from Gulftainer sponsorship of new equipment and uniforms. Gulftainer also encourages its personnel to donate some of their time in coaching local sports teams of various ages to improve not only their skills in the sport, but also their confidence and social interaction skills.

SOME OF THE ORGANISATIONS WE WORK WITH IN OUR COMMUNITIES ARE:

Within our operations in Iraq’s Al Basra and Umm Qasr regions, where the vast majority of our employees are Iraqi nationals, we take a special interest in supporting the local community’s activities. Notable examples include sponsoring the Al Mina Football club in Basra. Also, the company has donated water purifiers to residents in Umm Qasr last Ramadan, to help with the lack of potable water.

Gulftainer Company Limited provides vertical integration of supply chain services through Momentum Logistics, a wholly owned subsidiary, based in Sharjah. Momentum is a 3PL service provider, launched in October 2008, and has since, grown substantially, establishing itself as a leading and indispensable logistic solutions provider through its commitment to deliver efficient and cost effective supply chain solutions.

Clients are offered a comprehensive range of integrated logistics services encompassing transportation, freight forwarding, warehousing, logistics cities and container repair services. The company believes in the importance of understanding customer’s requirements, designing customer centric solutions and offering outstanding customer service.

Momentum has now divisions specializing in Transport, Freight and Container Repair with each Division having developed over the course of the years. The Freight Division has now established a global network of agents, assembled a team of experienced professionals and attracted several global customers while the Transport Division owns and operates one of the largest fleets of trucks in the UAE.

VISION

To consistently achieve best-in-class performance in all our port operations and third party logistics activities worldwide.

MISSION

To continue to enhance our reputation and performance as the most productive port operator and third party logistics provider, by ensuring that our customer service outperforms our competitors in the markets in which we operate.

ABOUT US

Established in 1976, Gulftainer Company Limited is the largest privately owned port management and 3PL logistics company in the world, based in United Arab Emirates (UAE), and for more than 35 years, we have been delivering world-class performance to our customers.

Our UAE operations include the ‘best in class’ (SCATA Awards) Khorfakkan Container Terminal (KCT) and Sharjah Container Terminal (SCT), as well as port operations and logistics in Ruwais Port in Abu Dhabi, where we manage the facility on behalf of the international plastics company, Borouge.

Our company’s international presence spans over 5 continents and includes the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Asia, and the Americas – with projects in Iraq, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon and Brazil having already commenced since early 2012. We are also currently assessing several potential new ventures.

In 2008, we launched Momentum Logistics, our fully integrated logistics provider (3PL), and currently ranked a Superbrand in its industry.

The Frost & Sullivan Leadership Award is a global programme that recognizes outstanding industry achievements across a multitude of industries and functional disciplines by companies world-wide. The Awards follow a robust, highly acclaimed and constantly updated assessment process, derived from best global practices.

It acknowledges companies who have demonstrated excellence in their growth strategies, exhibit exceptional leadership, successful customer acquisition and service strategies, and sound execution in business plans, in addition to other critical factors.

Gulftainer Company Limited was awarded the Supply Chain Partner of Choice in the Service sector category, the highest category award given by Frost & Sulivan, based on a series of assessments conducted across its facilities.  Gulftainer was commended for its commitment to deliver efficient and cost effective supply chain solutions and exceptional service to its customers across its facilities in the UAE.

Gulftainer’s Managing Director, Peter Richards, said: “The recognition from Frost and Sullivan highlights our focus and clear understanding of our customer’s requirements. We take pride in our operational capabilities and our relationships with the operators who rely on us to provide them with the service, insight and expertise that we are known for in the industry.”

Established in 1976 in Sharjah, UAE, Gulftainer’s current portfolio covers operations in the UAE, Iraq, Brazil, Lebanon and Saudi Arabia.

When Gulftainer Company Limited was first established in 1976, it was a modest and humble business operating from its home in Sharjah. 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 assembly of a strong customer-focused team with well-rounded industry experience.

The past 37 years have been a remarkable journey for Gulftainer; with the addition of new facilities in Iraq in 2010, and Brazil, Russia and Lebanon in 2012, but it is the recent acquisition of Gulf Stevedoring Contracting Company (GSCCO), based in Saudi Arabia, which has elevated the company to new heights. Gulftainer now operates 8 terminals in the Middle East - more than any other operator in the region.

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.

Twenty five years ago Gulftainer operated just 4 ship to shore gantry cranes and by the end of 2014 will have the potential to operate over 75. Twenty five years ago Gulftainer employed a staff of 125; by the end of 2014 this will have grown to well over 4000, and by the end of 2013 Gulftainer will be managing 40% of all Middle East ports.

A true success story born out of Sharjah.

Momentum Transport, a wholly owned subsidiary of Gulftainer, owns one of the largest fleets within the Middle East, and offers various solutions for transportation requirements. We have a diverse range of trucks and trailers including Tractor heads, Flat beds, Curtain siders, Container transporters, Container tippers and Low loaders.

Momentum Trucking has National and international capability, operating depots in Sharjah, Khorfakkan, Jebel Ali, Abu Dhabi, Kurdistan, Umm Qasr and Basra in Iraq as well as operations in Turkey and Pakistan under Joint Ventures.

The commitment of Gulftainer Company Limited to quality, health, safety, environment and security starts with the senior Management of the company, but is also the responsibility of everyone in the organization, including new recruits. This commitment is vital to the continued enhancement of Gulftainer’s reputation, and the maintenance and development of its esteemed customer base.

Gulftainer has established and implemented a QHSE Policy, which states the company’s vision and commitment towards the health and safety of its employees and the surrounding community; protection of the environment; the quality of its products and services; and compliance with client and regulatory requirements.

Management also ensures the continuous improvement of the established QHSE Management System by providing health & safety leadership, planning for health & safety success and enforcing processes and systems.

THE LATEST VESSEL productivity numbers derived and analyzed from The Journal of Commerce Port Productivity Database should be welcome news for marine terminal operators and port authorities. Productivity at many terminals improved in the first six months of 2013 compared to the previous numbers covering all of 2012.

Productivity improvement was especially noticeable at the port level. Nine of the top 10 U.S. ports improved, and globally, nine of the top 10 ports also improved their vessel berth performance.

Among individual terminals in the U.S., six of the top 10 improved vessel productivity, two experienced a decline and two new terminals joined the top 10.

Seven of the top 10 container terminals globally recorded increased productivity, two experienced a decline and one new terminal entered the top 10.

The Journal of Commerce, after working with ocean carriers for five years, released its first ranking of the top ports and container terminals in July. A total of 17 ocean carriers, representing more than 70 percent of global vessel capacity as defined by research analyst Alphaliner, provided their 2012 vessel productivity data based on the industry’s standard measurement of gross moves per hour across the vessel.

The rankings for January-June 2013 are based on 12,500 vessel calls in the Americas and 63,500 ship calls at major ports around the world. The Journal of Commerce will update productivity numbers on a regular basis.

Industry experts aren’t surprised by the improvement. “The productivity numbers should go up,” said Mark Sisson, leader of the maritime analysis group at Oakland, Calif.-based engineering firm AECOM. Container ships are continually getting bigger, which allows for more efficient working of the vessels. Terminal operators also are using advanced technology and are refining their operating techniques, he said.

Overall, the key factor in improving berth productivity isn’t the top-end capacity of the cranes, but rather the fluidity of the container yard and the support that terminals provide the crane operators. “It’s all about the yard,” Sisson said.

Ed DeNike, chief operating officer of SSA Marine, cited the ability of the crane operator and the yard sup- port as the two key factors in berth productivity. He used the Port of Oakland as an example. SSA’s crane drivers during the night shift regularly handle 35 to 45 lifts per crane per hour because there are no trucks moving around in the yard.

During the dayshift, though, SSA’s crane operators average 28 to 30 moves per hour because the terminal is handling truck operations, as well. SSA will process 4,000 to 5,000 truck moves per day. Sometimes the yard gets so congested that a section must be closed off to truck traffic.

It’s therefore the responsibility of the terminal operator to provide as much yard support as necessary. “If we’re not getting containers to and from the crane quickly enough, we’re doing something wrong,” DeNike said.

Crane density is also important. To control costs, however, terminals will only work as many cranes as necessary to get the vessel in and out of berth in the window for which the shipping line is paying. Sisson said terminals generally assign one crane for every 1,000 moves. Therefore, a ship calling at a smaller port will work up to two cranes for 2,000 or fewer moves.

As an added benefit to our clients, Gulftainer provides agency related services upon request. While agency business is not actively pursued in the UAE to avoid a conflict of interest with shipping lines and agents, Gulftainer Agencies plays a major role in our international ventures.

We have qualified and experienced staff who can handle all Agency related matters to ensure a reliable and professional service to Ship owners and operators.

To support its ambitious 2020 growth plans; port management and logistics provider adopts IT analytics solution.

UAE - The leading port management and logistics company Gulftainer today announced that it has selected Nexthink through its partner Anzemato support its ambitious growth targets by enhancing its IT infrastructure.

Gulftainer aims to grow its global footprint to reach 35 terminals across 5 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.

"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," said Vinay Sharma, Group IT Manager at Gulftainer."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," saidRamesh 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 hasa 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."

To support its ambitious 2020 growth plans; port management and logistics provider adopts IT analytics solution.

UAE - The leading port management and logistics company Gulftainer today announced that it has selected Nexthink through its partner Anzemato support its ambitious growth targets by enhancing its IT infrastructure.

Gulftainer aims to grow its global footprint to reach 35 terminals across 5 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.

"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," said Vinay Sharma, Group IT Manager at Gulftainer."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," saidRamesh 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 hasa 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."

Port management and logistics company Gulftainer has rolled out Nexthink IT monitoring solutions to help it manage its IT infrastructure.

The company chose the Nexthink solutions to support ambitious expansion plans to grow to reach 35 terminals across 5 continents and handle 18 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) by 2020.

Nexthink partner Anzema deployed the solutions, to give Gulftainer 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.

"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," said Vinay Sharma, Group IT Manager at Gulftainer. "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," saidRamesh 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."

"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," added Esslam Ibrahim, Vice President at Anzema.

The leading port management and logistics company Gulftainer announced that it has selected Nexthink through its partner Anzema to support its ambitious growth targets by enhancing its IT infrastructure.

Gulftainer aims to grow its global footprint to reach 35 terminals across 5 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.

“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,” said Vinay Sharma, Group IT Manager at Gulftainer. “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,” saidRamesh 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,” Ramesh added.

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.”

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,” saidRamesh 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.

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 aTransport 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.

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.”

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.

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.

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.”

- 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.”

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.

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 Richardsexplains.

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.

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.

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.

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.”

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.

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

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.

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).

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.

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, 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."

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’s new Canaveral Cargo Terminal at Port Canaveral in Florida, USA, officially opened for business with a major launch ceremony attended by more than 300 local, state, and national public officials, alongside leaders of business and trade across the Florida region.

The new cargo terminal opening comes one year after Canaveral Port Authority signed a 35-year agreement with GT USA, the US arm of UAE-based global ports and logistics company Gulftainer, to operate and further develop the container and multipurpose cargo terminal. GT USA, which has established its headquarters at the Canaveral Port Authority offices, expects to contribute more than US$630 million to the local economy, creating 2,000 direct and indirect jobs when fully developed.

The ceremony was attended by HE Yousef Al Otaiba, Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to the United States of America; HE Lana Nusseibeh, Permanent Representative of the United Arab Emirates to the United Nations; Ambassador Vinai Thummalapally‎, Executive Director of the International Trade Administration of the U.S. Department of Commerce; and Richard Biter, Secretary of the Florida Department of Transportation.

Canaveral Port Authority Commission Chairman Jerry Allender, opened the ceremony by saying, “the United Arab Emirates and the United States have fostered great partnerships in trade, culture, and education. Today represents one example of our nations’ great partnership.”

In his opening remarks, HE Yousef Al Otaiba highlighted the growing trade between the UAE and the US, commenting: “Bilateral trade between the UAE and US has grown almost 80 percent since 2005. In fact, last year the US benefitted from a US$19 billion trade surplus with the UAE, and was the largest market for US goods and services in the region.”

Al Otaiba added: “Now we’re here to celebrate another milestone in the UAE’s expanding trade and commercial relationship with Florida. And I am proud to count the Gulftainer and Port Canaveral venture among the finest examples of the UAE-US relationship.”

GT USA is part of Gulftainer’s strategic vision to triple its global cargo capacity in the next ten years across five continents. The Company is a subsidiary of UAE-headquartered multinational Crescent Enterprises, which is also active in a number of other industry sectors.

Badr Jafar, CEO of Crescent Enterprises and Chairman of Gulftainer’s Executive Board, added: “Container shipping is a US$6 trillion industry that touches 95 percent of the world’s manufactured goods, and we are determined to bring much more of that business to Port Canaveral in the months and years to come. What our experience has shown us, time and time again, is that a well-run port can be a huge catalyst for economic growth and development, and we look forward to working with the Canaveral Port Authority and the local community to ensure that this facility becomes an indispensable part of global supply chains.”

The unveiling of new terminal and first container movements included the maiden call of the ‘CMA CGM Jamaica’, a 264-metre container vessel with a capacity of 4,298 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) that berthed at the port, as the deepest vessel to ever call at Canaveral in its 60 year history, before resuming her voyage across the Atlantic and to Europe. A long-time business partner of Gulftainer, CMA CGM is one of the world’s leading shipping companies and is associated with Gulftainer at several locations around the world. Earlier this month, Gulftainer welcomed CMA CGM’s largest container vessel at its Khorfakkan Container Terminal in Sharjah, the ‘CMA CGM Kerguelen,’ with a total capacity of 17,722 TEUs.

Peter Richards, GT USA Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Gulftainer Group, said: “This new state-of-the-art facility is ready to get to work with two berths, two cranes and 20 acres of land already developed. In Gulftainer's partnership with the Canaveral Port Authority, it is our policy to partner with the entire community and we hope to make this a world-class container terminal servicing the Florida region, the nation and beyond.”

The Canaveral Cargo Terminal, which begins operations with a TEU cargo capacity of 200,000 TEUs, has ambitious plans to triple capacity to 750,000 TEUs. An ideal gateway for container shipping to the central Florida market and beyond, the new terminal provides an excellent connection to central Florida’s bustling consumption centres and growing number of distribution centres. The terminal is able to turn around cargo imported into Port Canaveral to the Orlando area within one hours, the fastest transit time when compared to other container terminals in the State.

We continue with our review of the essential principles involved in managing ports and trade transport with a discussion of some vital considerations investors, consultants and managers must seriously face:

1. Understanding the different types of ports and access to ports (natural, man-made, river, estuary) and the diversity of specialist port operations

The type and purpose of the port facilities will determine one's level of financial exposure and managerial approach. Ports dedicated to dry bulk will have a different configuration to those designed for liquid cargoes. Some countries might prevent the use of certain natural waterways for transporting such products as crude oil or natural gas. Hence, if inland sources of such products are only available by land, it will mean providing for port facilities that will cater only to land transportation. Conversely, using only barges to ferry products will entail another set of support facilities.

2. Understanding the highlighted role of ports in a through-transport context – hub ports, feeder/transhipment ports, intermodal interfaces

Specialist port facilities consist of facilities that support the overall port system through auxiliary services, for instance, hub ports that serve as intermediary access-points to other major facilities or provide linkages for other parts of the entire system. These intermodal ports allow movement of products and goods through various modes of transport (land-to- water interface, water-to-land interface or air-to-land interface, etc.) until the final delivery or transfer of goods to their port of destination is accomplished. Movement of materials or goods must follow strategic routes that comply with financial, technical and time constraints to achieve efficient and profitable results.

3. Being aware of the role of national and regional local government institutions in port design, management and operations

Recognizing the primary role of national and regional government agencies play in the construction and operations of part facilities will give a company the advantage of acquiring a thorough understanding of one's corresponding role and duties. Various taxes and fees are required throughout the process of acquiring a license to operate, using and developing of real estate, practicing one's profession and obtaining environmental requirements, for example, will involve coordinating with officials who grant the necessary permits and approvals. The upkeep of infrastructure as well as its day-to-day operations will fall under the legal supervision of these agencies tasked to ensure safety, legality, tax compliance and other technical and administrative standards provided for by law.

4. Understanding the different forms of the ownership structure of ports and of port services; that is, public or private, landlord only, full or part-service provider, including terminal facilities within ports

Various conditions will determine and even complicate the form of ownership of port facilities and the kind of services that will be provided. Leasing the land upon which the port is located will be the best option compared to owning it. Some country will not allow full ownership and will require a local partner to own majority of the land as well as the improvements (usually 60%). How the arrangement will end up will determine the total investment required for the port terminal as well as how it will be operated. For those who have local partners already engaged in some aspects of the operations, one might provide auxiliary or support services that will reduce one's level of investment.

5. Appreciating the use of Free Port/Free Trade Zones as an economics tool

Countries have gained the benefits of opening up Free Ports and Free Trade Zones to allow foreign investors to establish operations in regions where labor and raw materials are cheap and readily available. This has allowed port operators to take advantage of such ports and zones while enjoying the tax relief afforded them as well as their manufacturing partners. Commonly, these zones, however, have a short or limited life expectancy as many companies that use up their tax-holiday contract period move to other regions or eventually pay required customs, thus, losing their advantage over their competitors. A long-term view of entering into such an arrangement is needed to assure that port facilities will have a long duration of operation and continuing profitability.

Ever since Gulftainer Company Limited started its port facilities in Sharjah, UAE, in 1976, with Ramesh Shivakumaran, Group Director Business Services - it has grown into a well-oiled and strong company that can deliver services according to the specifications of its clients. With 8 terminals now in Saudi Arabia, it prides itself of its accomplishments which it has achieved through applying these and other primary principles in port management.