STORAGE + WAREHOUSES-

Morocco, Boeing to establish aerospace centers: Moroccan investment management firm Alphavest Capital inked an MoU with Boeing to set up five aerospace centers of excellence (COEs) in Morocco, according to a statement released on Friday. The five centers will focus on engineering airport transport systems; tubes, ducts, hoses, and fittings; aircraft standard machine parts and sheet metal; secondary aircraft structures, especially composite parts; and metal processing and distribution.

SOUND SMART- Aerospace COEs are dedicated entities that cooperate with firms or institutions on certain focus areas within the aerospace industry. The US Federal Aviation Administration ’s COE program facilitates cooperation between government entities and academic institutions to develop research and manufacturing capabilities, providing grants for related projects.

EQUIPMENT-

DP World launches Philippines’ first e-ITV fleet: The UAE’s DP World and Asia Terminals Inc (ATI) have rolled out a PHP 120 mn (c. USD 2.1 mn) fleet of electric internal transfer vehicles (e-ITV) and rapid-charging capacities at the Philippines’ Manila South Harbor, according to a press release last week. The harbor’s 15 e-ITVs — making up 20% of the current fleet — will enhance terminal efficiency and vessel turnaround time by streamlining container transportation and accelerating the transition to a fully-decarbonized fleet by 2030. The eITVs were manufactured by China’s Sany Heavy Industry, the press release said.

The investment is part of DP World and ATI’s USD 100 mn project to upgrade the Manila South Harbor, which was announced last May, the press release said. The project features an extension of the terminal Pier 3’s berth to over 600 meters and an expansion of the existing yard to accommodate 20k TEUs.

CUSTOMS-

GCC + Malomatia partner on digital data platform: The GCC Customs Union Authority inked an agreement last week with Doha-based IT services and consulting firm Malomatia to establish a digitally-accessible customs data-exchanging platform across all GCC countries, according to a statement last week. The platform aims to increase the efficiency of customs operations by facilitating data exchange within the region and across its borders.

AVIATION-

Oman eyes Wizz Air partnership after UAE exit: State-owned firm Oman Airports is in talks with Wizz Air to debut direct flights from Europe to Oman — including from Budapest — after the Hungarian budget suspended its Abu Dhabi operations last week, CEO Ahmed Said Al Amri told Oman News Agency on Saturday.

More in the pipeline: The firm is considering new direct services with Lot Polish Airlines and is in discussions with China to implement a direct flight to Muscat from Shanghai or Guangzhou through China Eastern Airlines, according to a separate Times of Oman report. Oman Airports also inked an MoU with Malaysia-based WCT Holdings Berhad — the engineering and construction arm of WTC Group — to share expertise and explore investments on projects within Muscat International Airport, the Oman Observer reported last week.

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