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SHIPPING + MARITIME-
#1- ABB to equip 15 ships Qatar Energy with permanent magnet shaft generator tech: Swedish-Swiss automation firm ABB has snapped up an order from South Korean shipbuilder Samsung Heavy Industries to equip 15 LNG carriers with permanent magnet shaft generator tech for state-owned Qatar Energy, according to a statement. The investment ticket of the commission has not been disclosed. Qatar Energy placed an order for the 15 LNG carriers for USD 3.57 bn with Samsung Heavy Industries back in February, Lloyds reported.
What we know: ABB will install permanent magnet shaft generator technology on the vessels, which have a carrying capacity of up to 174 cbm and are slated for delivery between mid-2026 and August 2028, according to the statement.
Targeting fuel efficiency: ABB will leverage its generator technology to boost operational efficiency and reduce fuel costs by up to 4% compared to traditional high-speed and fuel-intensive engines, the statement says.
#2- KSA’s Mawani introduces CMA CGM’s LMX shipping service: The Saudi Port Authority (Mawani) has added French shipping giant CMA CGM’s LMX shipping service to the country’s Jubail Commercial Port, SPA reported earlier this week. The service connects Jubail Port to Turkey’s İskenderun and Mersin ports, the UAE’s Jebel Ali, and Lebanon’s Beirut with a capacity of 3.5k standard containers.
#3- DP World Mundra has added the Milaha Guf Express Service 2 (MGX-2), boosting India’s connectivity with key ports across East Asia, the Indian Subcontinent, and the Arabian Gulf region, the Maritime Executive reported. The MGX-2 service will operate on a fortnightly basis with three vessels with a capacity of 3k TEUs each and will rotate across the ports of Shanghai, Ningbo, Shekou, Nhava Sheva, Mundra, Sohar, Hamad, and Dammam. The service aims to streamline the movement of diverse cargo and offer efficient logistics solutions to boost India’s access to global markets.
#4- Asry kicks off first phase of Bapco Refining’s Barges Project: The Arab Shipbuilding and Repair Yard Company (Asry) has launched the first phase of the Bapco Refining Self-Propelled Fuel Oil Bunker Barges Project in Bahrain, which is slated for execution in 4Q 2024, according to a press release. The project — part of a strategic alliance between Asry and Bapco Refining — involves the delivery of two self–propelled fuel oil bunker barges to one of the country’s “biggest national industrial operations.”
DATA CENTERS-
Aramco Digital + Groq partner up on mega data center in KSA: Saudi Arabia’s Aramco Digital — the tech subsidiary of Aramco — has partnered with US-based artificial intelligence (AI) firm Groq to build what it says will be the world’s largest inference data center, according to a press release. The data center aims to process bns of tokens per day by the end of 2024 and onboard thousands of developers in the region by 2025. Aramco Digital will integrate its digital marketplace — dubbed nawat — as a flexible as-a-service model to ensure seamless access to AI in the Kingdom. Aramco will fund the development of the facility, which is slated to cost “in the order of nine figures,” Bloomberg quoted Groq CEO Jonathan Ross as saying. The tech firm is planning to deploy massive capital in a bid to help diversify the economy away from oil.
LAST-MILE DELIVERY-
Smartt AI to boost Aramex’s operational efficiency with AI-driven solutions: E-commerce agency Smartt AI will leverage its AI-driven end-to-end ecommerce solutions to boost operational efficiency and performance in Aramex’s fulfillment and last-mile delivery services in the UAE, according to a statement.
What we know: The pair will integrate a unified dashboard system to boost last-mile delivery tracking and oversight capabilities. The two parties will also adopt Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) to streamline bilateral communication and operations. The partnership will launch operations in the UAE market with plans to expand to KSA and the wider region.
About Smartt AI: The UAE-based firm, founded in 2022 by Kartik Jobanputra (LinkedIn), specializes in e-commerce listing management, warehousing logistics and content creation, according to its website.
TRUCKING-
UAE-based logistics operator TruKKer has launched Atomix, a new EV ecosystems solutions provider that offers enterprises in the country access to a range of electric trucks, according to a statement. The firm will leverage technology designed to cater to regional demands and specifications, including powertrain systems to decrease energy losses by 53%, fast-charging battery technology which can reach 80% charge in 30 minutes, and intelligent control systems.
PORTS-
SISCO subsidiary Kindasa Water Services (KWS) has inked a contract with Saudi Port Authority (Mawani) to extend its lease at Jeddah Islamic Port, according to a Tadawul release. The lease for KWS’s desalination site at the port has been extended for another 10 years until 2041, with the previous contract set to expire in 2032. The investment ticket of the leasing contract has not been disclosed.
OTHER STORIES WORTH KNOWING THIS MORNING-
- SCA to finish maintenance work on El-Nasr Floating Bridge next week: The Suez Canal Authority (SCA) is set to finish maintenance work on the El-Nasr Floating Bridge south of Port Said. The 421-meter-long, 15-meter-wide bridge has a daily crossing capacity of 20k vehicles with a total load of 20 tons and 1.2k trucks with a load of 70 tons daily. (Al Mal)
- Qatar Airways boosts Amsterdam routes: Qatar Airways has added four weekly flights, bringing the total to 14, between Doha’s Hamad International Airport and Amsterdam Schiphol Airport from 12 November 2024 to 29 March 2025. (AZB)
- Etihad Air to increase Sydney flights in summer 2025: Emirati flag carrier Etihad Airways is planning to double flights from Abu Dhabi to Sydney. The airline is also introducing a new flight between Abu Dhabi and Denpasar in Bali. The flight increase is scheduled for July 2025. (Aerotime)
- Air Astana expanding in the UAE: Kazakhstani flag carrier Air Astana will be launching new services from the Kazakh capital Astana to Abu Dhabi on 30 October and from the country’s western region Almaty to Abu Dhabi on 12 December 2024. (Times Aerospace)
