Dear Readers,
Its Thursday the 27th of February and PCW is here. I am writing to you from Dubai, UAE. I arrived here from Malta three nights ago and I generally enjoy staying in the old part of Dubai beside Deira Creek. It is always nice in a hotel, restaurant or entertainment established to be greeted by someone who knows you. of course, you never know if the smile is because of a great tip you gave or because they generally like to see you again.
My view of Deira Creek in Dubai
Being in the middle east I sometimes wonder, “Where are the locals?”. Everyone I meet is coming from India, Pakistan or Nepal. They are all friendly and nice but I have to admit that meeting someone who actually comes from the UAE is a bit of a task.
I have attended the Breakbulk expo in Dubai. It wasn’t that big and somehow the mood even seemed a bit subdued, but likely because of the corona virus and overall global worry about the economy. I hardly saw anyone from Asia at the event and that tells me a lot.
On the political front there is not much to say except, of course, with UK exiting the EU and leaving a 10 billion Euro gap in the financing the establishment doesn’t seem to have a single thought about adjusting cost to income. Politicians, especially French, Italian and so on, only know how to spend, never how to save or how to earn!
We also have the usual news and since i was busy in the middle east this week I remind you to look at www.projectcargo-weekly.com and I also show you (below) pictures of your editor networking.
Until next Thursday, I remain,
Yours sincerely,
Bo H. Drewsen
bo.drewsen@projectcargo-weekly.com
New Silk Road Gets Better and Better
Editor’s Note:
The railway to and from Asia and Europe has been revived after years of talking about it. Apparently it indeed is a viable alternative.
The year 2019 was not a year of enormous growth in terms of volumes on the Eurasian corridor. It was a year of many achievements nevertheless. Transit times were reduced significantly, new routes established and the procedures simplified. Beijing Trans Eurasia International has been there since the beginning. Despite the current setback due to the coronavirus, he is optimistic about the New Silk Road.
Hamburg Süd Expands Business in Italy, Spain, and Egypt
Editor’s Note:
Although now part of Maersk, at least we can still see the logo of Hamburg Sud in real life – let’s hope it continues – big isn’t always better and lets trust that this quality carrier may remain as is.
Hamburg Süd is now exclusively represented by its own offices in Italy and Spain after business was previously partially handled by agents and joint-venture organizations. Furthermore, in Egypt the company has taken full management of Hamburg Süd Egypt recently. “We are thereby investing in the Mediterranean markets that have traditionally been of strategic importance to Hamburg Süd,” says Poul Hestbaek, General Manager of Hamburg Süd’s Region Europe. “By having owned organizations, we will now be able to offer shippers in these countries Hamburg Süd’s typical customer proximity as well as guarantee better and more flexible service.”
Signal Energy Australia to Provide Engineering, Procurement, and Construction Services for the 706-Acre, 149 MW(P) Glenrowan West Solar Farm
Signal Energy Australia Pty Ltd has partnered with WIRTGEN INVEST, a German investment company, to lead the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) effort on the Glenrowan West Solar Farm. Signal Energy Australia is a wholly owned subsidiary of Signal Energy, a leading design/build contractor providing EPC services to the renewable energy industry.
Canadian Solar Begins Construction On 26.6 MW(P) of Solar Power Plants in Japan
The first is a 13.6 MWp project in the Ibaraki Prefecture. The project will be powered by 33,098 pieces of Canadian Solar’s high-efficiency MaxPower modules. Once in operation, the plant is expected to generate approximately 15,901 MWh of clean, reliable solar electricity each year, which will be purchased by Tokyo Electric Power Co., Inc. under a 20-year feed-in-tariff contract at the rate of ¥32.0 ($0.29) per kWh. The Company expects the project to reach commercial operation by mid-2021.
Veolia to Deliver Key Chemical Removal Technology to Leading Global Pulp Producer
Veolia Water Technologies will support a major expansion of a mill in Brazil by providing a turnkey chloride removal system designed to optimize the processing of wood-derived pulp used in the making of cellulose fibers.
Jebel Ali Port, Dubai
Editor’s Note:
Attending Breakbulk expo in Dubai it makes sense to give you a link to this nice video about the port of Jebel Ali.
Editor’s Note:
This view shows the real size of modern, giant container ships
