Jafza launched the Re-engineered World-class Customer Service Facility

Upgrades include over 100 service counters, a high-tech intelligent queuing system, priority VIP services and much more

Dubai, February 23, 2009: Jafza, flagship operation of Economic Zones World today unveiled its world class customer care facility in Jebel Ali, re-engineered and value-added with top-of-the-line offerings to provide a whole new service experience to customers and visitors unlike any other in the region. Designed to provide customers with the best of services at a higher level of efficiency, the new facility at Jafza 14 & 15 includes an intelligent queuing and processing system, upgraded customer services, meeting rooms, full-fledged VIP services, a renovated, contemporary reception area and other related amenities aligned with the Group’s world-class profile. The project, currently in the first phase of its operations, will provide enhanced services to all Jafza clients and their representatives from Company Public Relations Officers (PROs) who frequent the facility regularly for their company’s administrative needs, right up to Company Directors (i.e. CEOs and entrepreneurs) seeking to establish and expand their businesses in Jafza.Commenting on Jafza’s commitment to its clients, Salma Hareb, CEO of Economic Zones World, said that Jafza’s business ideology has always been steeped in customer-focused innovations and developments that facilitate the comfort and growth of its customers. She remarked that customer care centres were the ‘most vital client interaction tools’ for any organisation which is why Jafza wanted to ensure that its customers, who were the company’s major business partners got ‘the very best’.

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FERC green lights Sabine Pass LNG export plan

WASHINGTON D.C.: The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has concluded that Sabine Pass LNG's proposal to export liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the Sabine Pass LNG import terminal in Louisiana, with appropriate mitigating measures, would not constitute a major federal action significantly affecting the quality of the human environment.

FERC reported its conclusion in the environmental assessment (EA) prepared for the proposal to satisfy the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act.In order to operate its facility for the purpose of exporting LNG, Sabine Pass is proposing to modify four 24-inch diameter check valves located on Transfer Arms A and D on the East and West Jetty Platforms. The modifications to the check valves would allow LNG to flow in the direction for shiploading from the LNG Storage Tanks.The terminal operations currently utilize the Phase I facilities. Until the Phase II facilities are fully operational, LNG export operations would be limited to one transfer arm at a maximum rate of 6,000 cubic meters (21,888 cubic feet) per hour. Once the Phase II facilities are fully operational, two transfer arms on one jetty would be used for exporting LNG at a loading rate of 12,000 cubic meter (423,776 cubic feet) per hour.

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Suez Canal tolls lead to rerouting of Grand Alliance EU3 services

Tokyo: The Grand Alliance has announced today that high Suez Canal (pictured) toll fees “are difficult for carriers to afford in the current economic environment”, leading its member carriers to re-route all eastbound EU3 service vessels around the Cape of Good Hope with immediate effect, instead of transiting the canal.

The alliance, made up by members have led its members Hapag-Lloyd, MISC Berhad, Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK) and Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL), has said that it will consider re-routing more services if the overall economic situation does not improve.
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Beach rakes in the cash

Australian player Beach Petroleum saw its net profit leap by 117% year-on-year in the second half of 2008 to come in at A$127.5 million (US$82.2 million).

In the same period in 2007, Beach reported net profit of A$58.8 million. Beach said the boost in profit was achieved with further strong growth in total revenue, up 41% from A$340 million to a record A$480 million, while higher oil and gas sales of 5.5 million barrels of oil equivalent and surging oil and gas production of 5 million boe. Beach also tannounced that it had sought expressions of interest from third parties for a potential sale of part or all of its Tipton West coalbed methane assets.Company chairman BobKennedy said: "Our decision to seek expressions of interest has been undertaken following a strategic review of our interests in the Surat basin (Queensland) CBM region with a view to determining the best way to maximise value for our shareholders." Beach has substantial exposure to Australia's burgeoning CBM play via the Surat basin interests, including its Tipton West project, which is operated by Arrow Energy.

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ASA Members Respond to USS Port Royal

During the morning hours of February 7, 2009 three members of the American Salvage Association (ASA) provided salvage support to the U.S. Navy's Supervisor of Salvage to respond to the grounding of the USS Port Royal outside of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

The 9,600-ton, 567 ft guided missile cruiser ran aground a half-mile off Honolulu International Airport's Reef Runway after leaving port for sea trials.The ASA members mobilized their staffs for a response team consisting of a salvage master, assistant salvage master and a salvage engineer, managing logistics and contracting, as well as commercial resources required to support the Navy salvage operation either on site or from corporate offices. The three-day salvage effort involved tugs, a lightering barge, labor and other third-party services to assist the Navy with the successful salvage effort.

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