Monday, August 18, 2008

DP World also provides new cash deposit payment method

As part of its continuous drive towards upgrading products and services, Dubai Trade, Dubai World's trade facilitation department and provider of online trade eServices, announced the successful deployment of additional DP World eServices.

DP World eServices use the Rosoom platform to enable online payments for port charges. This release will facilitate easier and faster container movements at DP World's flagship Jebel Ali Port. Dubai Trade, which brings together a vast majority of companies that interact with Dubai's ports, customs and the free zone for the purpose of trade into a single community, had launched Rosoom in May 2008. The Rosoom platform has already proved to be a huge success with the trading community with over 14,000 successful payment transactions to date amounting to over Dhs11.7m. Mr. Mahmood Al Bastaki, Director of Dubai Trade, said that the deployment of the new payment services from DP World is the result of a concerted effort by a team of experts to aid customers. The newly launched eServices from DP World will facilitate the trading community to make online payment of port charges for Less than Container Load (LCL) cargo un-stuffed at the Jebel Ali Port Container Freight Station (CFS) and private CFS locations. It will also enable the payment of Document Processing Charges (DPC) for containerized and non-containerized export cargo against Customs bills generated through the new declaration platform, Mirsal II. In addition, DP World has created an additional payment method that will enable its customers to open a deposit account. Customers can top-up this cash deposit account through the Rosoom platform and utilize the balance for DP World online fees. DP World initiated the deposit scheme in response to demand from customers for a convenient mechanism to make payments promptly. Rosoom marks the latest in a series of trade facilitating services that Dubai Trade has launched recently. Covering the entire supply chain, the online service provider has become a vital link between the trading community and key sectors like the ports, free zone and customs.
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Swire Oilfield Services expands in Australia

Swire Oilfield Services Director and General Manager, Rupert Bray and Finance Director, Lyall Dochard, aim to capitalise on buoyant market conditions in Australia and beyond following the acquisition of Maritime Products and Services.

Swire Oilfield Services, Norway, has acquired Australia-based Maritime Products & Services (MPS). Swire is a specialist offshore cargo carrying unit supplier based in Stravagner. MPS is the latest acquisition in Swire Oilfield Services’ international growth plan. Over the past nine months, the company has acquired businesses in Norway, Angola, Nigeria, the USA and now Australia for a total of £35 million (US$86.62 million). In addition to the acquisitions, US$33.59 million have been invested to improve the company’s fleet across its global locations. As Australia enjoys buoyant market conditions and high levels of earnings and profits, operators in the region now have access to Swire Oilfield Services’ products and services, which includes chemical tank, basket and container rental, chemical handling and aviation fuel services. Employing eight people, MPS was founded in 2001 and quickly established itself as Australia’s leading supplier of chemical tanks, pump and filtration equipment. “Demand for MPS’ service offering in Australia and the Asia-Pacific region has increased significantly over the past few years and the acquisition allows us a smooth entry to the market,” said Director and General Manager of Swire Oilfiled Services. “We have already committed over £2 million (US$3.73 million) to expand our fleet and expect to spend twice that in the coming year.”
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East Gulf players pull out workers

Shell and Marathon Oil pulled non-essential workers from the eastern and central Gulf of Mexico due to the threat of Tropical Storm Fay, but offshore production was unaffected, the companies said.

Shell said about 200 workers were evacuated yesterday from the eastern Gulf, the same number the company evacuated from that region on Saturday. Marathon said the number evacuated from the central Gulf was not immediately available. Both companies described the evacuations as precautionary in the event the storm may bear toward offshore platforms as it progresses into the Gulf, which US forecasters said should take place today or tomorrow. The sixth cyclone of what experts predict will be an unusually busy Atlantic hurricane season, Fay may near hurricane strength as it approached Cuba yesterday, and be at hurricane strength over the Florida Keys and off Florida's west coast later today, US forecasters said. Fay is the third storm of the 2008 Atlantic hurricane season to menace US offshore oil and natural gas production, which provides 25% of US oil output and 15% of US natural gas production. This year's Hurricane Dolly and Tropical Storm Edouard only temporarily shut fractions of offshore production and did not outweigh geopolitical factors or the US economic outlook in determining crude oil and refined products prices. As of 5pm Eastern Daylight Time (2200 GMT) Fay was off Cuba's southern coast, according to the National Hurricane Centre. Shell, the US unit of Anglo Dutch Shell, is the leading deep-water producer in the Gulf of Mexico, from where it draws 80% of its US oil and natural gas production, according to the company's website. Among Shell's eastern-most Gulf platform is the Ram-Powell. Other eastern Gulf Shell platforms include its Mars and Ursa units.
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Famous Pacific Shipping expands in Zhongshan

Hong Kong: Famous Pacific Shipping (FPS) has established a new office in Zhongshan to complement its string of already-established branches in Mainland China.

Zhongshan is close to Hong Kong and Macau, which it has used to its advantage in its economic development, especially in the manufacturing industries. “Famous Pacific Shipping has has branch offices throughout China and has developed into a leading provider of international freight forwarding and NVOCC services," said FPS group director, Benny Ling (pictured). “All of our offices are strategically placed, with direct connections to the main trading areas of the world. We will continue developing our transport hubs throughout South East Asia for the benefit of our customers,” he added.
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Nichols Brothers launches third tug

USA: Nichols Brothers Boat Builders has recently launched the third tug in a series of five under contract.

The new tractor tug is owned by Minette Bay Ship Docking, USA. The complete propulsion system will consist of two 2,524kW Caterpillar 3516C diesel engines coupled to the Niigata Z-drive system. The propulsion package produces 85 tonnes of bollard pull and gives the tug exceptional manoeuvrability. The tug was also outfitted with a Fi-Fi 1 fire fighting system. The construction of the tractor tug is scheduled to be complete after final dock and sea trials are completed this month, after which the vessel will sail north to take up its new responsibilities in Prince Rupert Sound. The vessel has a length of 30.5 metres on a 12-metre beam. The vessel has a top seppf of 14 knots and can accommodate a crew of five.
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