SHIPPING + MARITIME-

New consortium looks to roll out marine refueling and retail concepts in Abu Dhabi: AD Ports Group subsidiary Abu Dhabi Maritime, ADNOC Distribution, and Abu Dhabi’s Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT) have inked an MoU to explore marine fuel and retail offerings to enhance Abu Dhabi’s maritime services, according to a statement. The agreement will see the trio investigate three proposed avenues for collaboration: an ADNOC fuel station at Rabdan Marina, fuel stations at future marinas within Abu Dhabi, and floating fuel and grocery vessels, the statement said.

New biofuel + SAF project in Egypt: The Egyptian Company for Solid Waste Recycling (ECARU), Qalaa Holdings and France’s Axens signed a cooperation protocol to conduct technical and economic studies for second-generation biofuel and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production project, according to a statement (pdf) by Qalaa Holdings. The project will be implemented in two phases, with the first focusing on the production of the advanced bioethanol, and the second focusing on SAF, the statement said. The studies will be carried out in seven months, with potential for exports of the second-generation biofuel later, the statement added.

World’s first liquified hydrogen carrier arrives in Saudi Arabia: Saudi Arabia’s Energy Minister Abdulaziz bin Salman toured Kawasaki Heavy Industries’ liquified hydrogen carrier at the Jeddah Islamic Port last week, the Saudi Gazette reported last week. The 116 meter, 19 meters wide ship has a 1.25k cubic meters storage capacity storing hydrogen at -253°C.

AVIATION-

Iraqi Airways eyes fleet expansion + looks to lift EU ban:Iraqi Airways aims to add 31 new aircraft to its fleet by 2027, Iraqi outlet Rudaw cites Iraqi Director of Media and Government Communication Maitham Al Safi, as saying. The airline is also holding talks to encourage the EU to lift the ban imposed on it, Rudaw said. Iraqi Airways has already received its first of 10 Boeing 787 Dreamliners, according to a ministry statement. The airline also received four out of 16 Boeing 737 Max aircraft, according to the statement. The total aircraft that the carrier has contracted with Boeing will expand its fleet by 26 aircraft.

LAST MILE-

FedEx is slashing priority delivery times in KSA + UAE: FedEx subsidiary FedExExpress has improved the transit time for its International Priority (IP) services in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, according to apress release. Shipments originating from the UAE and Saudi Arabia to the US can be delivered within 2-3 business days, while deliveries to Europe can be transported in two working days and those transported to Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa can arrive within 2-4 business days.

ALSO WORTH KNOWING-

  • Japan Airlines will launch a direct daily service between Tokyo and Doha starting in the summer of 2024, marking the airline’s first direct flight to the Middle East. (Press release)
  • Oman’s Transport, Communications and Information Technology Ministry has begun the work to connect the Al Batinah Expressway with theKhazaen Economic City, including setting up entry and exit points. (Oman Observer)
  • The International Maritime Organization inked an MoU to set up a regional office in Egypt to help boost technical cooperation with Arab countries. (Statement)
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