Gulftainer Bolsters Iraq Container Terminal's efficiency with latest addition of three new Kalmar reach stackers
The introduction of these advanced container handling machines comes as part of Gulftainer's ongoing commitment to improving terminal efficiency in response to rising cargo volumes by reducing turnaround times for containers, optimising terminal space through high stacking capabilities, and ensuring reliable, timely delivery of goods. This strategic investment underscores the company's dedication to providing the highest standards of service to its customers across the region.
These machines feature a rotating cabin, providing 360-degree movement for precise control and efficiency. They are fitted with adjustable spreaders to handle containers of different sizes, such as 20-foot and 40-foot units. Powered by hydraulic systems, they offer smooth, controlled lifting and stacking operations, while energy-efficient engines reduce fuel consumption. Additionally, their safety features like load-sensing technology, stability control, and cameras enhances operational safety.
Nic Gray, Managing Director for Iraq Operations at Gulftainer, said: 'The continued investment in our facilities highlights Gulftainer's commitment to supporting Iraq's expanding trade sector. These new reach stackers will further strengthen ICT's ability to provide efficient and reliable service. Our customer service remains unparalleled in the region, which is clearly reflected in the terminal's strong year-on-year performance.'
As the logistics and port infrastructure in Iraq continues to develop, Gulftainer remains at the forefront of the industry, actively investing in innovation and capacity to support Iraq's economic growth and its integration into global trade networks.
This latest addition to Gulftainer's fleet comes at a pivotal moment for the region, as the demand for more efficient and scalable solutions in the port sector continues to rise. With these new Kalmar reach stackers, Gulftainer is well-positioned to further enhance the efficiency and reliability of its operations, benefiting customers and stakeholders alike.
About Gulftainer:
Gulftainer was established in the Emirate of Sharjah in 1976 and has become an end-to-end supply chain and logistics solutions provider with global footprint of true multi-purpose ports, terminals, warehouses and transport facilities. Through a continued collaboration between Sharjah Ports Authority and Gulftainer, the company was the first to operate a container terminal in the Middle East, which is Sharjah Container Terminal, and then Khorfakkan Container Terminal.
Outside the UAE, Gulftainer's portfolio encompasses managing container terminals such as Jubail Commercial Port and the Jubail Industrial Port in Saudi Arabia and the Umm Qasr Port in Iraq. Further afield, Gulftainer manages and operates Canaveral Cargo Terminal at Port Canaveral in Florida, USA.
Its portfolio covers freight forwarding, supply chain operations and logistics through its subsidiary, Momentum Logistics.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Khaleej Times
5 hours ago
- Khaleej Times
Long commute, small homes: Meet UAE parents rebuilding life around schools
As rents climb and communities evolve across Dubai, a growing number of families are restructuring their lives around one non-negotiable priority — access to quality education. From trading larger homes for smaller ones to relocating across the city despite rising property prices, parents are increasingly putting schooling at the heart of every life decision. 'Raising a family starts with school' 'We've been living in Springs since 2012,' said long-time resident Arijit Nandi, recalling how the community evolved alongside his growing family. 'First in Springs 7, we paid around Dh100,000 for a type 4M. However, those rents have now gone up to a minimum of Dh160,000 for the same type, depending on how much a villa has been upgraded.' 'Our son was born in that house, and then he started going to the Raffles Nursery in the Springs Souk, which came up later,' he added. 'It was literally built in front of our eyes.' With the nursery just a short walk away and all amenities within reach, the family found Springs to be a convenient place to raise a young child. As their son grew older, the educational options in and around Springs became even more appealing. 'We learnt that Springs has several good schools in the neighbourhood, like Dubai International Academy Emirates Hills (DIA EH), Dubai British School, and Emirates International School–Meadows,' Arijit explained. 'That's when we became keen on buying a property.' 'Then covid happened.' Arijit shared that while many were hesitant, they saw the pandemic dip in property prices as the right time to invest. 'My wife suggested we explore newer communities, but I was quite keen on continuing in Springs. It's an older community, but that's exactly what makes it so liveable… it's green, quiet, and well-connected to the major roads like Sheikh Zayed and Al Khail.' More importantly, the decision aligned with their son's schooling needs. 'Our son had just started at DIA EH, which is five minutes away from where we currently live, and it is one of the best IB schools in the city.' 'When you're raising a family, school becomes the centre of everything.' Arijit emphasised that their housing decisions were made around access to good education. 'We didn't want long commutes, and we didn't want to compromise on education.' Arijit highlighted that in hindsight, it's been a worthwhile investment. 'Education is the anchor around which we've rebuilt our lives, and we're happy to make other trade-offs to give our child stability and access to one of the best curriculums and schools in this vicinity.' 'We've downsized, but school comes first' British expat Sally Maddison has also reshaped her family's life around her children's schooling — and housing costs have forced more than one move in recent years. 'I'm now moving to Arabian Ranches 2 from Serena in Dubailand, after having lived in Sustainable City for years,' says Sally. 'Originally, I left Sustainable City and moved to Serena because the rent was significantly lower — but my kids' school, Fairgreen International, is in Sustainable City, where we had lived for years. That place really felt like home.' Sally's family was forced to leave when their landlord sold the villa to another investor. 'We were paying Dh170,000, but the new landlord listed it for Dh310,000. We had no choice but to move. We found another villa in Sustainable City, but the rent shot up to Dh250,000.' Eventually, that too became unsustainable. Now, Sally is relocating to Arabian Ranches 2, where they'll be paying Dh210,000 for a villa — still a sharp increase from previous years. 'Two to three years ago, villas in Ranches were going for Dh130,000 to Dh150,000,' she says. 'We've downsized so much, but at least this new location is close to my children's school and their friends.' While exploring other communities like Town Square and Emaar South, she found challenges ranging from traffic congestion to shrinking home sizes. 'The villas keep getting smaller — Arabian Ranches 3 is half the size of Ranches 1. Everything they're building now is more compact.' But despite the compromises, Sally is clear about one thing… proximity to school remains non-negotiable. 'For us, school comes first.' 'We moved for affordability, but not at the cost of school' For French expat Christine Quartier La Tente, rising rents left her with little choice but to move house. After years of living in the Springs, she shifted to Damac Hills 2 two years ago to manage costs more effectively. 'In 2023, we were paying Dh165,000 for a Type 1M villa in Springs — a large, three-bedroom home with a study that was nearly the size of a fourth bedroom. It was a very spacious house, but it just wasn't financially sustainable for us anymore,' said Christine. 'Now, we pay Dh105,000 in Damac Hills 2. For the past two years, we had been paying Dh95,000, which made a significant difference to our finances.' However, while the family made compromises on their location, there was one non-negotiable — their daughter's school. 'I had promised my daughter Daria that no matter what, we wouldn't change her school because she loves her school. So, we've kept that promise,' Christine added. 'She's been at Raffles World Academy since her early years, and it's the one constant in our lives amid all the change.' Christine shared that they never seriously considered shifting Daria to a nearby school in Damac Hills 2, also for another reason. 'She's always studied in an IB curriculum school, and most of the schools closer to us now follow the British curriculum. That made it easier to stick with her current school.' The decision does come with a significant daily commute. 'My husband drops her to school in Umm Suqeim 3 every morning — it takes about 35 minutes. I pick her up in the afternoon, and it can take up to 50 minutes depending on traffic,' she explained. 'I take Sheikh Zayed Road, then Expo Road and E77, usually driving between 120–140 km/hr.' Even when they lived in Springs, the school commute was never short. 'It used to take Daria about 45 minutes to an hour to get home by bus. To be honest, I have started liking Damac Hills now,' added Christine.
Arabian Business
7 hours ago
- Arabian Business
Aramco collaborates in study on leveraging AI for carbon market integrity
The Future Investment Initiative (FII) Institute has released a white paper exploring how artificial intelligence (AI) could improve transparency, accuracy, and efficiency in the voluntary carbon market. Done in collaboration with Aramco and Arthur D Little (ADL), 'AI-Enabled Carbon Markets: Identifying AI Solutions for the Voluntary Carbon Industry' also offers practical guidance for organisations working to meet carbon emissions reduction targets and addresses evolving challenges in the carbon market, such as project identification, cost overruns, and regulatory as well as market complexities. The white paper emphasises AI as a tool for overcoming issues like pricing transparency and the risk of greenwashing. It highlights AI's potential to contribute to enhancing the breadth, consistency, and integrity of carbon credits, with the aim of providing companies with greater confidence and precision in pursuing carbon emissions reduction. Richard Attias, CEO of FII Institute, commented: 'Our collaboration with Aramco and Arthur D Little reflects a shared goal of leveraging technology to enhance efficiency. This publication is a vital resource for any organisation focused on making credible, impactful advances in carbon emissions reduction through AI-driven carbon markets.' Musaab M Al Mulla, Aramco's Vice President of Market Analysis and Sustainability, added: 'We see the voluntary carbon markets as a unique and important lever in supporting a practical and orderly energy transition. However, for the market to reach its considerable potential to mitigate carbon emissions at scale, a number of key challenges will need to be addressed. 'This white paper showcases AI's potential role in helping to make carbon markets more transparent and efficient. Integrating AI could support organisations in enhancing the reliability and accountability of their carbon emissions reduction efforts.' The publication identifies four primary ways AI could help advance the voluntary carbon market: Carbon quantification: AI technology could potentially enhance the precision of carbon sequestration measurements, allowing for more accurate assessments of project impacts and better prioritisation. Transparency: AI is expected to enable real-time monitoring of carbon offset projects, providing verified emissions data that could contribute to building stakeholder trust. Integrity: The use of AI may mitigate the risk of greenwashing by identifying discrepancies between reported and actual carbon reductions, which could help bolster the credibility of carbon credits. Pricing forecasting: AI-driven models could offer dynamic, data-based valuations for carbon credits, with the aim to support market participants in making well-informed decisions. Carlo Stella, Managing Partner and Global Practice Leader for the Sustainability Practice at Arthur D Little, added: 'AI's role in carbon markets is essential for organisations aiming to achieve meaningful and measurable progress. This white paper highlights AI's potential to improve accuracy in carbon reduction measures, a critical factor to improve confidence among adopters.' The FII Institute is a global non-profit foundation driven by data with an investment arm and a one-point agenda – Impact on Humanity.
Arabian Business
7 hours ago
- Arabian Business
GWC and Qatar Airways extend logistics agreement by five years
Gulf Warehouse Company (GWC) will continue to deliver a full spectrum of integrated logistics services for Qatar Airways after the two parties officially extended their long-standing partnership by signing a five-year service agreement. For over a decade, GWC has served as the logistics service provider for Qatar Airways and its key affiliates, including MATAR, and Qatar Duty Free. The airline's behind-the-scenes logistics operations has complemented the premium passenger experience, which has led to its success on the global stage. GWC services will include import/export handling, customs clearance, warehousing and distribution, inventory management, document storage, and other value-added solutions. Sheikh Abdulla Bin Fahad Bin Jassim Bin Jabor Al Thani, GWC Group Managing Director, commented: 'The renewal of the agreement with Qatar Airways reflects the strength of Qatar national institutions working together to achieve excellence on a global stage. 'At GWC, we are proud to support the operations of the world's best airline with world-class logistics solutions rooted in innovation, efficiency, and reliability. Our long-standing partnership with Qatar Airways is a testament to our shared values and our unwavering commitment to Qatar's continued progress and global connectivity.' Badr Mohammed Al-Meer, Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Officer, added: 'We are pleased to renew our long-standing partnership with GWC. This agreement strengthens our operational capabilities and supports our continued global growth. By working together, we remain committed to delivering world-class services across a broad range of functions.'
