Vosta LMG is a well experienced technical provider in the dredging industry and with excellent technical know-how, while APT Global has wide-range experience in dredger construction and manufacture and servicing of dredger components and is a renowned contractor for the dredging and offshore industry.

Vosta LMG has already joint ventures in India, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Europe, US, China and now with this agreement, the very potential market of MENA will be covered.  APT Global currently has operations and yards in UAE, Qatar, India & Netherlands.

Mr Anil Abraham, CEO of APT Global and Mr. Dietze, CEO of VOSTA LMG are looking forward to combine their resources and expertise for the construction of dredgers and related components.  Both companies have a passion and dedication for quality and innovation based on an extensive knowledge in their respective field.  This co-operation sets out to enhance the position both companies in the market.

This co-operation between the two organizations is very much strategic considering the huge opportunities for new ports construction and expansion of the existing along with other infrastructure, tourism and offshore projects valued at around USD 50 billion in this region.

Continuing on its growth path, the company turned profitable registering a net profit of INR 571 Million in CY2011. “Port Pipavav has steadily grown since 2009, when we started marketing our facilities,” said Prakash Tulsiani, MD, APM Terminals Pipavav. “Despite the challenging time the industry faces currently, our client base has grown. We have enhanced our infrastructure substantially and will continue to do so to serve the needs of our customers.”

Growing Volumes

Both container and bulk cargo volumes have grown considerably.  Container volumes grew 31% over 2010 with a throughput of 610,243 TEUs. Bulk volumes grew 18% in Q4 2011 as compared to Q4 2010 and recorded a growth of 10% in CY 2011. Rail volumes grew significantly, recording 71% increase in the number of rakes and a 78% increase in Metric Tonnes, going from 3.09 million MT to 5.51 million MT.

Revenue Growth

Port Pipavav has recorded an increase of 40% in operating revenue in CY 2011 while operational costs have gone up by 32%. EBITDA margins have grown to 46% in 2011 as compared to 40% in 2010. Growth in cargo volumes and improvement in realizations have helped in positive results during the year.

As compared to Q3 2011, there has been a 104% growth in net results, an 18% increase in revenue, 31% increase in EBITDA and a 11% increase in EBITDA margin. Compared to Q4 2010, in CY 2011, the port has recorded an increase of 33% in revenue, 72% increase in EBITDA and 2.4 times increase in Net Result from INR 111 Million to INR 270 Million

“Our operational margins have increased. Simultaneously, we have reduced the interest costs by 33%,” said Hariharan Iyer, CFO, APM Terminals Pipavav.” The growth in cargo volumes has also helped us to generate economies of scale and reduce operating costs.”

Infrastructure Growth

The port has undertaken several new projects to upgrade infrastructure. New container yards have been built, bringing the capacity to 850,000 TEUs. New rail sidings, sheds for fertilizer cargo with automated bagging and loading in rakes, will be completed by Q3 2012.  Three new Rail Mounted gantry cranes for container loading will also be installed and operational by Q4 2012.

“Safety of our people, both employees and contract labour, is very important for us. Our objective is to reduce risks and improve safety by minimising the man-machine interface,” said Tulsiani.

Pipavav Rail Corporation Ltd, a JV between the Indian Railways and APM Terminals that maintains and operates the 269 km railway line for the port, also turned profitable.

APM Terminals Pipavav located in Gujarat is one of India’s fastest growing ports. APM terminals bought a majority stake in the company in 2005 and after modernising the facilities, Port Pipavav began marketing its services to clients based in north west India. In 2010, the port launched its IPO successfully and has steadily improved cargo volumes, number of clients, road and rail connectivity and storage facilities. Port Pipavav is part of an international network of ports and terminals belonging to APM Terminals of the Moller-Maersk goup.

The works, which began in January 2011, involved the complete reconstruction of more than five hectares of the container terminal area with heavy duty paving designed to withstand the increased loads from the container stacks and the four new rubber tyre gantry cranes (RTGs).

PD Ports has invested over £16 million as part of an overall £29 million project, which will expand the container terminal capacity from 235,000 to 450,000 TEU (Twenty Foot Equivalent Unit) and position Teesport as the second largest container port in the north of the UK.

“We are very pleased with the progress so far,” says David Robinson, chief executive, PD Ports Group. “Operator training on the new RTGs was completed ahead of schedule and the cranes are already in full service at the terminal. We are also well advanced in testing and implementing a new terminal operating system, which remains on schedule to be operational this summer.”

The RTG cranes represent the single biggest equipment investment at Teesport since the container terminal opened in 2003. Teesport is also launching a fast gate service in April, to reduce waiting times for containers moved from ship to warehouse, to further improve service to onsite customers including ASDA and Tesco.

PD Ports continues to see container volumes rise despite the global economic downturn and believes its promotion of the portcentric concept has contributed significantly to its success.  The concept involves establishing distribution centres and importing goods through ports closer to the final customer.

Unpacking, storing and picking goods at the port for onward delivery to stores directly benefits the supply chain at multiple levels. By eliminating road miles travelled from southern ports to distribution centres often based in the Midlands and the North, the environmental footprint and fuel consumption of the entire supply chain is reduced.

The recent announcement that Clipper Logistics Group will open a purpose built distribution centre within the port hinterland will further support PD Ports’ portcentric operations and will drive increasing volumes as the facility opens in autumn 2012.

The high-energy transmission X-ray system will inspect cargo entering the port for security threats and contraband. This is the first of several systems to be installed at port and land borders in Saudi Arabia. The system provides high penetration into inspected objects as it moves along rails over stationary vehicles and cargo.

“AS&E is very honored to join Dr. Hamad Al Qasoumi, Deputy Director General of Saudi Customs, and senior staff of Al Zamil Group, at the inauguration of Saudi Customs’ new OmniView Gantry X-ray inspection system at King Abdul Aziz Seaport,” said Anthony Fabiano, AS&E’s President and CEO. “The system is the first of several OmniView systems that will be integrated into Saudi Arabia Customs’ total security protocol to secure their ports and land borders. The high-performance, high-energy OmniView Gantry cargo inspection system offers Saudi Arabian security officials best-in-class X-ray imaging in a unique, efficient design to secure their borders.”

“Saudi Arabia Customs is strongly committed to using leading edge technologies to improve the quality and efficiency of the port logistics and security processes,” said Dr. Hamad Al Qasoumi, Deputy Director General of Saudi Customs. “The deployment of AS&E’s OmniView Gantry and other specialized companies’ systems in the port comes as a complement to Saudi Customs’ projects for installation of X-ray scanners which began in 2005. These installations will lead to faster, safer, and more effective control of the thousands of containers in transit every year through the land and sea borders in Saudi Arabia.”

“The Al Zamil Group is committed to provide and maintain the best security solutions for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Saudi Customs,” said Dr. Abdul Rahman Al Zamil, Chairman of Al Zamil Group. “We are very pleased to partner with AS&E to supply their unique technology to Saudi Arabia Customs to safely and efficiently scan containerized cargo.”