Entries Tagged 'Issue 10 September 2008' ↓

In terms of gross tonnage, efficiency and marketplace importance, it’s hard to top today’s container cranes

Moving millions of tonnes of goods daily, container cranes remain an integral part of global commerce. These massive structures efficiently and effectively load and unload roughly 90 per cent of the world’s shipped goods, in an almost robotic fashion. Operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week, these colossal cranes offer little in subtlety or wastefulness, moving on average 25 to 30 TEU containers an hour, with very little downtime.

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If 75 per cent of empty containers were foldable by 2010, it would amount to an estimated 50 per cent reduction in ship cargo movement costs

In an age when the whole world is screaming ‘green’ and energy conservation is the order of the day, the benefits of a foldable container need little elaboration. Prof. Anoop Chawla and Prof. Sudipto Mukherjee from the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi – Department of Mechanical Engineering, have successfully designed a container that folds to a fourth of its size. Avinder Bindra, an ex-banker, initiated the invention.

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Casey McFann sits down with Dirk Montgomery, Director – Offshore Sales, MENA, National Oilwell Varco, to find out how drilling rigs come together

In the world of oil, drilling rigs are the essential tool of extraction. But what do we actually know about them? Dirk “The Driller” Montgomery explains the workings of today’s drilling rigs.

Dirk Montgomery, Director – Offshore Sales, MENA, National Oilwell Varco

Casey McFann: How does a drilling rig work?

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Streamlining the crude supply chain is one way to help bring down fuel costs.

History will judge the impact of crude oil as unparalleled. Wars are fought over it. Petrodollars are derived from it. Countries lucky enough to possess it are maintained by its existence. In fact, since 1971, oil has sustained the buoyancy of the US dollar. With OPEC pricing oil in dollars, after all, countries are obligated to maintain dollar reserves to purchase petroleum, thus reinforcing the greenback’s strength and demand. In a sense, the gold standard has stepped aside for the oil standard.

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Perhaps it is only fitting that the largest shipper in the world lays claim to the largest ship in the world – the Emma Maersk. With twice the overall fleet capacity of its nearest rival, Demark-based Maersk Line is in a league of its own

On her initial journey from China to Europe, hauling 45,000 tonnes of Christmas goods, the Emma Maersk was worthy of much attention. Often hailed by other ships that passed, the vessel’s master, Henrik Solmer remembers it vividly. “They said, ‘Hey, we heard about you and it is nice to see you coming. You are beautiful and it is a good speed that you are doing.”

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The shipping industry needs a comprehensive awareness on claims handling and must understand the importance of claims prevention

A healthy market requires that all marine industry sectors practice due diligence in their ordinary course of work. Many long standing medium and some small-sized enterprises in the UAE have successfully conducted their business for years without having to worry about professional insurance or affording the protection of national and international associations. Yet standards still need to be raised in line with the rapid increase of volumes that are entering the region.

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If one word could describe Agility’s global expansion, it would be ‘aggressive’

Bassem Chbaklo, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Middle East and Africa, Agility

Mention the name Agility to anyone working in the logistics or freight forwarding business in the Middle East and his or her expression will likely turn to that of half fear, half respect. In the past few years, Agility has developed into one of the top logistics providers in the world, finding itself with over 20,000 employees in more than 100 countries. Its three divisions – Global Integrated Logistics (GIL), Defense & Government Services (DGS) and Investments – bring in almost US$6 billion in revenue each year.

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Everyone knows that UAE’s construction market is booming. Meaning all parties are benefiting. Who, then, is thinking about the environment?

Who isn’t looking for space in Dubai, be it for a warehouse or an office? With the booming construction scene, things look positive. But hold on. Slow down a moment and think about the future. Don’t you want your office or warehouse to be environmentally friendly? And how many developers are thinking about this? Are their buildings sustainable?

Charlotte Eddington, Group Head, Director, Energy and Sustainability, CBRE

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No mean feat that. With all the expectations (not only local but global) how is work going on the building of the tallest structure in the world?

The Burj Dubai currently stands at around 640 metres

Calling the Burj Dubai only ‘iconic’ is an understatement. The world’s tallest building is perhaps better described as an expression of the entire Emirati sentiment to the rest of the world

– “We’ve made it!”

If you’ve visited the official website, you are enveloped in its awe. The Burj is going to need a capacity of 10,000 tonnes of melting ice to cool it everyday. The observatory deck at 422 metres above ground is going to be the highest observatory point in the world. It will have 200 metres of spectacular dancing fountains. It will house one of the first Armani Hotels in the world. So many superlatives in only one monument.

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The world is shrinking. Thanks to ease of travel, improved communications and globalised trade, our networks have grown larger and now cover greater distances than ever before. According to Hungarian author Frigyes Karinthy, each of us is connected to any of the more than six billion people on the planet through an average of five acquaintances. Let’s take Sam and Joe – Sam knows Elaine, Elaine knows Suresh, Suresh knows Deepa, Deepa knows Roy, Roy knows Joe. Sam and Joe stand six degrees apart, and thus the rule is called Six Degrees of Separation. Apparently, you can apply this theory to any two people in the world.

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