SHIPPING + MARITIME-

Hydrom inks JSA with Port of Amsterdam + Zenith Energy Terminals + GasLog for green hydrogen corridor:Energy Development Oman -owned Hydrogen Oman (Hydrom) has inked a joint study agreement (JSA) with Dutch port operator Port of Amsterdam, US-based liquid storage terminal developer Zenith Energy Terminals, and UK-based LNG carrier GasLog for the development of a liquid hydrogen corridor connecting Oman to markets in Europe according to a statement. The agreement is a world first and highlights Oman’s aspiration to become a green hydrogen hub.

SCZone connects with international firms on the sidelines of COP28:Suez CanalEconomic Zone (SCZone) Chairman Walid Gamal El Din met with representatives of Riyadh-based energy producer Acwa Power, Danish fund manager AP Moller Capital, and German pump manufacturer Wilo on the sidelines of COP28, according to a statement. Talks with Acwa Power representatives centered around the activation of an MoU they had previously inked, while talks with board member at Wilo George Webe focused on the importance of water pumps to projects at the freezone.

He also met with AP Moller Capital’s managing partner and executive director, Kim Fejfer, to discuss financing green fuel projects.

ONE kicks off Egypt Lebanon Turkey Service: Shipping line Ocean Network Express(ONE) has announced a new week-long Egypt Lebanon Turkey route (ELT), which will commence on 6 January 2024, according to a statement. The weekly service will offer customers a direct connection between Damietta, Egypt, Beirut, Lebanon, and Iskenderun, Turkey.

AVIATION-

Enoc + Neste ink MoU for SAF Initiative in Dubai + MENA: Global energy group Enoc has inked an MoU with sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) producer Neste to explore the possible supply and purchase of SAF regionally in the coming years, according to a press release. ENOC aims to supply blended SAF across its entire network by 2030 to reduce its carbon emissions by 80%, according to the release.

Iraqi airline Fly Baghdad banned from operating in EU: The EU’s Aviation SafetyAgency has banned Fly Baghdad from operating in EU airspace over its failure to “meet international safety standards,” a statement said, without providing further details.

REMEMBER-Iraqi Airways has also been banned from operating in EU airspace, but it gets around this restriction with flights operated by Turkey-based Tailwind Airlines, though the details of the workaround are not clear, according to SimpleFlying.

Qatar Airways has increased services to several destinations during the peak winter period, according to a statement. Qatar Airways is adding between three to four new flights for each of its services from Hamad International Airport, to Amsterdam, Bangkok, Barcelona, Belgrade, and Miami. The new flight services will start between 15 December and 13 January depending on location and route, the statement adds. Qatar Airways did not say if the additional flight routes will continue following the holiday season.

RAIL-

Iran + Turkey look to transport 1 mn tons of rail freight: Tehran and Ankara have targeted the transfer of 1 mn tons of rail freight between them over the upcoming Iranian calendar year, which begins on 20 March 2024, head of state-owned Railways of the Islamic Republic of Iran and Deputy Roads Minister Miad Salehi told Mehr. Railway executives from both countries have agreed to the exchange of 200 railway cars along the Razi border crossing, according to Mehr. Turkish railway infrastructure will also undergo maintenance, and look into potential solutions d to problems caused by low water levels at Turkey’s lake Van, Mehr said.

Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan have agreed to develop a transport corridor from China to Europe via China, Kazakhstan,Turkmenistan, and Iran, Astana Times reports, citing the Kazakh Transport Ministry press service. Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan inked a protocol and an MoU on transport connectivity that expands cooperation in rail and sea transport, the outlet reports. The move aims to increase traffic volumes, create favorable tariff conditions, and harmonize infrastructure development.

This comes following the 12th meeting of Transport Ministers of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) in Tashkent last month, where the transport ministers and representatives of the ECO inked an agreement to establish a new transport corridor from China to Europe via Iran, Turkey, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. The agreement involves the unification of tariffs, transport procedures, and border processes.

E-COMMERCE-

KSA’s Cenomi Group + Turkey’s Trendyol to operate e-market in GCC: KSA’s retail and lifestyle ecosystem Cenomi Group has partnered with online fashion and lifestyle marketplace Trendyol to launch an e-commerce site to serve the GCC region, according to a statement. Trendyol’s existing platform will be rebranded in the coming months to expand the products offered. The joint venture aims to have the platform achieve 15 mn annual orders in 2024.

ALSO WORTH KNOWING-

  • DP World has joined the First Movers Coalition to decarbonize shipping, setting a target for 5% of its marine power to come from hybrid engines and zero-emission fuels by 2030. (Statement)
  • Morocco will provide subsidies for 2.5 mn metric tons of wheatimports from 1 January to 30 April 2024. (Reuters)
  • Ethiopian Airlines is looking to expand its cargo flight network with the addition of a new freighter route to Casablanca, Morocco. (Ethiopian Monitor)
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