‘NAU by DP World’, a digital marketplace and an aggregator of cargo ‘dhows’, traditional wooden vessels, has achieved a shipping volume of more than 255,000 tons in 2020, with 1,762 dhows registered in the application.
Launched officially in February 2020, NAU connects Dhow owners with traders allowing them to search, negotiate and book shipments. The platform represents a digital transformation of the traditional industry, effectively ushering in a new era of smart trade that DP World enables and promotes.
The app uses the latest AI technologies to connect traders with the boat captains.
This has increased the number of cargo operations through the application from 295 operations in October 2020 to 394 in November and 477 in December.
NAU has been a very useful tool in supporting cargo movement activity for traditional dhows on Dubai creek. From 2009 to 2018, Dubai’s external trade through Dubai Creek made AED122b, and the volume of shipments reached 10.564 million tons. Goods included textiles, phones, air conditioners, electric appliances and foodstuff.
Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, DP World group chairman and CEO and Chairman of Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation, said: “Our strategy to develop Dubai’s capabilities as a main regional and global hub for trade includes the advancement of the emirate’s trade through traditional wooden vessels. This trade has been playing a main role in the development of Dubai, and our efforts are directed at giving these dhows an enhanced role in the continuous expansion of Dubai’s trade to include all sectors and markets; small and medium-seized regional and international ports, as well as large ports with which our trade has been prospering.
He added: “NAU smart platform is one of the tools that we use to enable traditional trade to efficiently utilize advanced IT solutions in organizing the dhow trade. The success of the application since its launch supports Dubai’s external trade and enhances its role in the diversification of national economy as it moves to develop further as part of the UAE Centennial 2071, inspired by the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and keeping pace with the Fourth Industrial Revolution through continuous innovation. The success of the NAU platform paves the way for further utilization of growth opportunities in dhow trade”.
Dhow Captains (locally called ‘Naukhda’) now have the facility to view business requests from traders that match their planned trade routes and available Dhow space. Accordingly, the app helps Naukhdas to effectively plan their trips, optimize efficiency in Dhow space utilization and ultimately generate higher revenues. Traders, on the other hand, can search for availability of cargo dhows in Dubai, based on their requirements. If dhows are not readily available at the time of their search, traders can post a request.
Mohammed Al Muallem, CEO & Managing Director, DP World – UAE Region, said: “The continuous development of the NAU application comes as part of our comprehensive strategy at DP World – UAE Region in the adoption of the latest technologies that support our pioneering position in terms of port capabilities and in the service of world trade. We will continue our development and support of dhow trade, and that will also attract more dhows to Dubai in coming years”.
Ahmed Mahboob Musabih, Director General of Dubai Customs, said: “Our efforts integrate with the DP World’s efforts and all the entities under the umbrella of the Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation (PCFC) to help develop this important sector. We provide outstanding services and facilities to ensure quicker and more streamlined dhow trade.” Musabih added that Creek Customs and Deira Wharfage Centers dealt with around 18,000 vessels in 2019 compared to 15,603 in 2018, marking a 15.3% growth.
Mahmood AlBastaki, Chief Operating Officer – Dubai Trade World, said: “The response we have received from dhow owners and traders on the use of the NAU platform has been extremely encouraging, particularly with dhow entry requests and dhow booking. Moving these processes online has brought with it a host of advantages for dhow trade through the creek, saving time and increasing efficiency”.
Mahmood Mohammed Amin, Chief Executive Officer, Marine Agency for Wooden Dhows, PCFC said: “PCFC continues to provide smart and outstanding services to dhow owners and traders. The Shipping Agent Office plays an important role in organizing operations and processes for these vessels during their stay in the emirate’s waters. Dubai is a major hub for traditional vessels coming from different countries in the Middle East and North Africa.”
Nau enables traders through Dubai to efficiently search and book dhows to ship their cargoes. The application, which is available in different languages including Arabic and English, is compatible with IOS and Android operating systems. Dhow Owners and traders can utilize the easy-to-use mobile apps (NAU By DP World) for smart phones, or the powerful web platform www.nau.dpworld.com. There is a two-sided rating system allowing both Dhow-owners and traders to rate each other and demonstrate credibility.
The Transported Asset Protection Association (TAPA) has announced key appointments to its leadership and Advisory Board teams in the Europe, Middle East & Africa (EMEA) region as it experiences record growth in all aspects of its supply chain resilience and cargo crime prevention activities.
Thorsten Neumann, President & CEO of TAPA EMEA, has appointed Ap Boom as the Association’s new Chief Financial & Compliance Officer. A former volunteer member of the region’s Board of Directors, Ap joins TAPA EMEA in this new full-time role after more than 20 years in the security industry. After holding senior security management roles in the retail and ICT services sectors, Ap’s career in supply chain security started when he joined TNT in 2009 and, later, DHL International. Prior to accepting this new post, he spent over four years with Amazon, latterly as Senior Manager EMEA Security & Loss Prevention.
Markus Prinz has also joined TAPA EMEA’s full-time team in the newly-created role of Senior Manager, Trainings & Standards. During his term on the regional Board of Directors, he led the growth and transformation of the Association’s Security Standards training program which, in 2020, delivered face-to-face and online courses for over 1,000 TAPA members. Markus previously spent over 20 years with logistic services providers in Germany, most recently as Senior Manager Quality & Security Systems at Hammer GmbH.
TAPA EMEA members have also elected four more members to the region’s Advisory Board:
Marcel Saarloos of HP Inc.
Mark Grüntjes of Boehringer Ingelheim Corporate Center GmbH
Björn Hartong of Zurich Insurance
Paul Linders of CEVA Logistics
Marcel, Mark, Björn and Paul join the previously appointed Advisory Board members:
Gilad Solnik of Amazon
Michael Schmidt of Volkswagen
Frank Ewald of Deutsche Post DHL Group
Commenting on the changes, Thorsten Neumann said: “TAPA’s reputation as the world’s leading supply chain resilience and security association is reflected in the caliber of our membership. In the EMEA region, we are fortunate that some of the leading security experts in our industry are also willing to give us the benefit of their knowledge and experience by serving on our Advisory Board. We have an outstanding team to help us deliver our ambitious growth agenda over the next three years, and to ensure we provide more benefits to our members to help them manage risks in their supply chains. I am also delighted to welcome Ap and Markus to our full-time team. They have both previously served TAPA EMEA in a voluntary capacity, and with great distinction. They will now play an important role in accelerating our activities in the supply chain industry.”
TAPA EMEA supports the resilience of its members’ supply chains through its industry-leading supply chain security standards and certification programs for facilities, trucking and secure truck parking. It also provides training services and cargo theft intelligence resources to help members’ risk management and loss prevention programs.
Worldwide Flight Services (WFS), the world’s largest air cargo handler, has future-proofed its growing handling operation at Brussels Airport with the opening of a modern 250,000-ton capacity cargo terminal, designed to optimize speed and deliver self-service and real-time information for airlines and freight forwarders.
The new 25,000 sq mt facility is in addition to WFS’ 11,000 mt warehouse and office operation at the airport which opened in the Brucargo West development zone in 2019.
Marc Claesen, Senior Vice President Commercial EMEAA at WFS, said the company’s latest investment is inspired by Brussel Airport’s commitment to air cargo growth. He said: “Brussels Airport and its cargo community are very progressive. WFS is taking the leading role in providing the market with a product and digital tools which meet the requirements of modern-day cargo handling, and which gives us the capacity to grow. We believe more airlines will choose to partner with us.”
WFS’ clients in Brussels include Asiana Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Etihad Airways, IAG Group, and United Airlines. Last summer, WFS also signed a five-year contract to provide a total handling solution for Air France KLM Martinair Cargo at the airport covering cargo, mail and trucking as well as services to support special products. Most recently, WFS has also won another new handling contract with cargo carrier Demavia Airlines.
In support of Brussels Airport’s reputation as the pharma centre of Europe for airfreight, the new cargo terminal incorporates a dedicated pharma zone, which will become both IATA CEIV Pharma and GDP certified in 2021. It also combines a perishables handling facility and will house a new EU Border Inspection Post, and is fully equipped with state-of-the-art security access controls and cargo screening technologies in compliance with WFS’ global commitment to deliver the highest standards of safety and security.
WFS says the operation will intensify the use of IATA e-freight protocols for seamless freight movements from the shipper and all the way through the airfreight chain, helping to reduce time delay obstacles and improve shipment efficiency and visibility. Truck drivers arriving at the building already enjoy kiosk-based, self-service reception points, enabling them to stay in their vehicles when completing cargo deliveries and collections, and expediting their assignment to one of the terminal’s 40 cargo gates.
The new facility is part of a €100 million investment by Brussels Airport in the cargo zone at the airport.
Since the end of November, flights to more than 40 destinations have been carried out to distribute Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccines from Brussels, including shipments via DHL Express and on commercial flights.
As a key pharma hub in Europe, Brussels Airport has fully deployed its expertise in the transport of temperature-sensitive pharmaceutical products to support pharmaceutical manufacturers such as Pfizer in the transport of the vaccines.
In the last few months, an increasing number of flights with Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine COMIRNATY have been carried out from Brussels Airport.
There are almost daily flights within the DHL network via DHL Express carrying smaller shipments of the COVID-19 vaccine.
In addition, there are also larger shipments on commercial flights, from partners such as Singapore Airlines, Qatar Airways, Emirates, El Al, Virgin Atlantic and United Airlines.
From Brussels Airport, the vaccine has already been shipped to more than 40 destinations through more than 100 flights.
“We are very proud to be part of the solution to the pandemic by fully deploying our network and expertise in the transport of pharmaceutical products. The partnership with PfizerBioNTech to further distribute the COVID-19 vaccine from our country is particularly important for Brussels Airport,” commented Arnaud Feist, CEO of Brussels Airport.
“With our logistics partners we have invested a lot in the preparation of this essential transport and we can therefore offer a streamlined chain to get the vaccine to its destination in optimal conditions.”
Animal air charter firm Intradco Global has expanded into Canada and the UAE with the opening of two new offices.
The company has opened offices in Toronto and Dubai as it invests in under-represented territories to achieve strategic growth.
Intradco said the move would help it develop “mutually beneficial, close working relationships with new and existing customers in these regions”.
Tom Lamb, who has worked at the firm’s London office for nearly seven years, will head up its Toronto office as regional manager – North America (Live Animal & Cargo Charter).
In Dubai, Joe Street, who has experience working in both brokerages and airline charter teams, joins as account manager to spearhead the operation.
Supporting them will be the company’s new operations manager, Erica Resendes, who has experience in ground handling process across North American airports.
Charlie McMullen, director at Intradco Global, said: “Both North America and the Middle East are key markets, especially given the popularity of horse racing, dressage and other equestrian sports. Both locations also have very active livestock markets, which has been an exciting growing product for Intradco Global over the last five years.
“Clients in these industries expect a highly personalized service at competitive prices – they want to meet face-to-face in their own neighborhoods to do business rather than get on the phone to London. Our product is very hands on, so having internally trained teams that know how to handle challenges ‘on site’ is extremely important.
“Both Tom and Joe are incredibly knowledgeable, well-trained and ambitious, so we are delighted for them to represent us in North America and Dubai. I am sure they will help us identify and capitalize on new opportunities and wish them every success in their new roles.”
He added: “We’ve faced challenges throughout the Covid-19 pandemic like most companies but have invested heavily in infrastructure and remote communications to position ourselves for global expansion. This pandemic has highlighted how critical air freight is to the global market.
“It may not be glamorous, but it is essential, and we have seen increased appreciation from many clients of the flexibility that air charters can offer them. Despite the current uncertainties, we are looking forward an exciting 2021.”
Technology has made the world smaller and faster.Real time communication with people from all over the world at different time zones through phones and gadgets
