INNER THE ISSUE 3 - Gulf Warehousing Co G… · 38% increase in net profits throughout the year,...

THE INNER

Gulf Warehousing Company Internal Newsletter

THE Gulf Warehousing Company External Newsletter

email: [email protected]© 2015 Gulf Warehousing Company QSC

The Role of Logistics in National Food Security

GWC Delivers Logistics Support

For CHI AL SHAQAB

GWC Breaks its Own Records in Super Heavy Lifts

GWC, Constantine Enter Into Collaborative Partnership

WAREHOUSING NEWS

QATAR ART MOVEMENT

APRIL 2015 ISSUE 3

Qatar ranked #7

of world’s most resilient nations to supply chain

disruptions

Qatar ranked #7

of world’s most resilient nations to supply chain

disruptions

APRIL|2015 Gulf Warehousing Company (Q.S.C)ISSUE 3 3THE

INNERGulf Warehousing Company Internal Newsletter


2

WELCOME

Dear Readers,Gulf Warehousing

Company welcomes you once again with a brief description of what factors are influencing the local logistics industry, and the economy as a whole, with our unique insights into the developing projects in 2015.

The year has taken off

with a running start, with a variety of projects making major progress within the first few months of the year alone. This comes on the heels of the country dedicating nearly USD 30 billion in 2014 alone for various infrastructure project to occur in Qatar, as well as promises by the country’s leadership to complete nearly 80 infrastructure projects already awarded within the year. The country has begun to recognize the role small and medium enterprises will play in alleviating this burden and meeting its commitments, and has therefore created various forums to discuss current and potential incentives and facilities to help these companies grow and flourish in the coming years.

Among these incentives shall be the basic infrastructure supporting

the nation, and the country has made great strides in completing the facilities necessary to promote the country’s economic growth, most particularly in the transport sector. The Doha Metro is reportedly 18% complete, while major roadways such as the Rawdet Rashed and Lusail Expressways are well-underway. These projects and more call upon the support of the logistics industry in ensuring the safe and most efficient execution and operations. Whether introducing new services in the market, such as our company’s equestrian logistics services, or refining upon our currently available project logistics services, or even the role we can play in ensuring the continued food security of the nation, Gulf Warehousing Company has set itself apart as

an industry leader. Catering to such varied industry verticals as the oil and gas sector, the finance sector, the medical sector, and government bodies among others, the company has set the benchmarks for what the logistics industry in Qatar is capable of. We’ve therefore shared a few of our thoughts on some of the pressing matters being faced in the current economic climate, and offer our experience and knowledge on how to achieve the best possible outcomes.

We look forward to your thoughts and comments on our newsletter, and invite you to contact us at our email: [email protected]

Enjoy Reading!

Ranjeev MenonGroup CEO

Vision Taking Form

GLOBAL SUPPLY CHAINAN INDEX DETAILING THE MOST AND LEAST RESILIENT

SUPPLY CHAIN COUNTRIES FOR 2015

TODAY’S

Global business places a premium on supply chain resilience, but not all countries and regions are equal.

The FM Global Resilience Index, compiled annually by research partner Oxford

Metrica, ranks 130 countries and territories by factors a�ecting supply chain resilience.

THE TOP10 COUNTRIES MOST RESILIENT TO SUPPLY CHAIN DISRUPTION

1. NORWAY2. SWITZERLAND

3. NETHERLANDS4. IRELAND

5. LUXEMBOURG6. GERMANY

7. QATAR8. CANADA

9. FINLAND 10. UNITED STATESREGION 3 (CENTRAL)

Qatar, ranked 7, is new to the top 10 this year. Qatar bene�ts from macroeconomic stability, e�cient goods and labor markets, and a high degree of security. The country owes its jump in position to a considerable improvement in commitment to �re risk management in the region.

Source:2015 FM Global Resilience Index.




4

Gulf Warehousing Company Q.S.C. (GWC) has announced that the company will perform equestrian logistics projects in the State of Qatar. The addition of the new activity is to fulfill the GWC vision to become the most sought after third party logistics provider in Qatar and the GCC.

GWC Equestrian will be an end-to-end solution, transporting horses and their related assets by land and air, as well as offering all related value added services. Among these services will be international airfreight service for the movement of all types and breeds of horses worldwide, quarantine and supervisory services, supervision of customs clearance and tarmac supervision, aircraft charter services, as well as consultancy for the

movement of horses.“Horses are very near and

dear to Arab culture, and hence the solutions we offer must take all sensitivities into account. GWC has been the industry leader offering comprehensive logistics solutions for many years, which we will put

to the service of providing equestrian logistics,” said Gulf Warehousing Company Chairman Sheikh Abdulla bin

Fahad bin Jassem bin Jabor Al Thani.

Most recently, GWC provided logistics support

phase expansion during last year’s third quarter. The company intends to further supplement its one-stop shop, immediately operational fully integrated logistics infrastructure through a fifth expansion phase currently at the tendering stage.

GWC also expanded on its industry specific assets, working to add nearly 65,000 square meters of facilities at its Ras Laffan Industrial City (RLIC) site, which will provide a new temperature controlled warehouse, a new open yard, and one of the first ISO tanks in the nation.

“The company is committed to seek out new markets and gain new business

opportunities and new rewarding partnerships.” the chairman added.

Among the approved agenda items, the assembly cleared the board members of any possible liability as

well as the remuneration of the company’s board of directors.

They also approved the assignment of KPMG as the external auditor for Gulf Warehousing Company’s activities.

Finally, the assembly elected the previous board members for a period of

three years (2015 – 2017) and elected Eng. Ali Abdulatif Al Misnad as an Independent board member under the supervision of the representatives from the Ministry of Economy and Commerce.

The Gulf Warehousing Company General Assembly approved the proposed 15% cash dividend (at a rate of QAR 1.5 per share) during its Annual General Meeting held in Doha.

GWC Chairman Sheikh Abdulla bin Fahad bin Jassem bin Jabor Al Thani commented on the proceedings, and said: “these dividends represents the importance we dedicate to ensure continued returns on investments for our shareholders.”

Additionally, the Company’s external auditors KPMG explained details from their audited financial report for the fiscal year 2014. GWC’s Chairman of the Board Sheikh Abdulla bin Fahad bin Jassem bin Jabor Al Thani added to their report by providing details about the company’s achievements and business in 2014. Among these achievements was a strong 38% increase in net profits throughout the year, achiev-

ing QAR 140.3 million by the end of the fiscal year 2014, as compared to QAR 101.6 million at the close of 2013. This was largely attributed to strong revenue streams, with total revenues peaking at QAR 673.3 million during 2014, a remarkable increase from QAR 527.3 million for the year 2013, a difference of 28%. Earnings per share rose to QAR 2.95 at the end of 2014, a remarkable increase of 38% compared with the 2013 results of QAR 2.14.

Gulf Warehousing Company’s assets also saw exponential growth during 2014, rising to QAR 2.102 billion in total assets,

a growth of 11.8% in comparison to its holdings in 2013, which amounted to QAR 1.879 billion. GWC approached its assets strategically,

making expansion decisions that would best benefit the market and its clientele.

Therefore, the Bu Sulba Logistics Hub has im-mediately formed one of the company’s biggest achievements in 2014, winning the contract for the 517,376 square meter site, making it one of the company’s biggest sites constructed to date, second only to the Logistics Village Qatar. Additionally, the Logistics Village Qatar (LVQ) developed a further 81,000 square meters, adding to an already impressive array of warehousing and distribution infrastructure during its fourth

These dividends represents the importance we dedicate to ensure continued returns on investments for our shareholders

The establishment of a subsidiary wholly-owned by Gulf Warehousing Company in the Kingdom of Bahrain

Gulf Warehousing Company Q.S.C. has established a subsidiary single person company in the Kingdom of Bahrain under the name of GWC Logistics S.P.C, with the company owning 100% of this subsidiary. The subsidiary is currently offering chilled, frozen, and dry storage for foodstuffs as well as distribution within the State of Bahrain.

GWC Board approves capital increase

The board of directors at Gulf Warehousing Company Q.S.C. has approved the increase of the issued capital by 25%, with a share price of QAR 38.5 per share set for the rights issue as per the instructions of the Ministry of Economy and Commerce. This increase is subject to approval by the ministry, after which the company’s shareholders must approve the capital increase at an extraordinary general meeting. The company seeks to increase its capital to fund its development projects which will be ongoing in the coming years.

GWC HIGHLIGHTS NEWS

GWC delivers logistics support for CHI AL SHAQAB

Gulf Warehousing Company General Assembly approves 15% cash dividend

GWC provided logistics support during the transport of

128 horses

for the CHI AL SHAQAB international event

during the transport of 128 horses for the CHI AL SHAQAB international event, with the horses divided among those performing at the vaulting, dressage, show jumping, and para-dressage events. The horses

arrived from 20 European countries, traveling first to Amsterdam as a central hub. GWC had full ground teams in both Amsterdam and Doha, handling the export and import into and out of Qatar, providing a veterinarian or a veterinarian’s assistant and a professional air groom per flight to accompany horses on board the flight, and tarmac supervision on departure and arrival. The company worked closely with the Qatar Ministry of Environment’s veterinary affairs department to ensure all processes complied with the highest standards of bio-security at all times.

“As Qatar is on its way to become a world leader in equestrian sports, and considering the efforts and the passions of Qatar Foundation to continuously establish AL SHAQAB, we look forward to completing such projects again in the future,” added Gulf Warehousing Company Chairman Sheikh Abdulla bin Fahad bin Jassem bin Jabor Al Thani.

140.3

2014

QAR

38%

million101.6

2013

QAR

million

Al Shaqab Horse Racing Academy

GWC Board of Directors and Group CEO at Assembly General Meeting 2015

Bahrain World Trade Center

Net profits




6

In recognition of the company’s continuing efforts in setting the standard of the logistics industry in the State of Qatar, Gulf Warehousing Company Q.S.C. (GWC) received the internationally renowned GIL Global Best Practices Award for Leading Domestic Logistics Service Provider of the Year 2015 on Monday, 16/02/2015. GWC Director of Business Solutions Mr. Sunil Kambrath received the award presented by Frost and Sullivan at an award ceremony in Dubai, the UAE.

The Frost and Sullivan GIL Global Best Practices Awards celebrated their sixth consecutive year in 2015, bringing together a global network of thinkers, visionaries, and thought leaders working together to leverage innovation as

a resource to address global challenges.

“Over the last ten years, GWC has grown to play an integral role within Qatar’s economy, aiding multiple

developmental projects of government agencies and ministries, major corporations and new SME startups,” said Mr. Sunil Kambrath. “We will remain steadfast in our

commitment to provide world-class services to the country, and in our continuing efforts to further develop and upgrade these services regionally and internationally.”

After performing the Qatar Airways year-end audit report on the 27th and 28th of March in GWC’s 33K and Street 15 facilities, GWC Contracts was pleased to announce that the company has maintained a 100% accuracy in the stock count for the client for the seventh year running. The audit team consisted of 26 contract logistics employees from GWC and two external auditors from Qatar Airways, who confirmed the accuracy rate for all their products.

The audit was conducted across three metrics, and after review of 1,791 SKUs, 18,231 pallet locations, and a total of 36,711,145 items stored, the year end audit reported not a single item lost or misplaced during 2014. This is the ninth

time the team has achieved a 100%

accuracy rate for Qatar Airways, and the

seventh year in a row from 2008 until 2015.

“I would like to extend my sincere thanks to our Qatar

Airways Operations and Service Teams, including Inventory, Warehouse and Customer Service, who have provided the operational excellence required to achieve these results,” said Chief Operations Officer Mr. Nader Hakim. “This is one more achievement for GWC as we continue to leverage our wide asset base, sector expertise, infrastructure and technology to maintain GWC’s position as the market leader in Contract Logistics,” he added.

The future and needs of small and medium enterprises were the focus of much intellectual debate in the month of March, with the “2nd Entrepreneurship in Economic Development Forum”, the “Qatar Chamber 1st SME Conference” and the “Meed Qatar Projects” all debating the merits and requirements of these new enterprises.

All were in agreement of the central role SMEs shall play in the development of the nation. With nearly USD 30 billion in projects awarded within 2014 alone, and the latest numbers showing the total value of all projects to be executed in the country at USD 276.3 billion, it is through the support of flexible and creative entrepreneurial enterprises that these projects, as well as the economy as a whole, may be completed. The diversity and empowerment that SMEs bring to the local economy are also inline with the Qatar National Vision 2030.

Much has been accomplished in sup-porting the SMEs, with the Qatar Development Bank alone reporting that it has aided and been consulted by nearly 260 small and medium enterprises, providing direct funding for these projects to the tune of QAR 3.4 billion. These SMEs have also shown tremendous growth, with supported SMEs growing their revenues by 53% during 2014.

Much still needs to be done to support these nascent companies as they continue to develop. Among the calls for assistance were recommendations

to increase awareness programs, both to the general public as well as new entrepreneurs. One of the speakers at the Entrepreneurship Forum insisted that in addition to financial incentives, new business owners needed guidance in how to manage their operations, while Qatari youths need to be made aware of the advantages

of entrepreneurship while being steered away from “easy” jobs in civil service or with larger corporates. These new entrants into the economy were advised to avoid looking at SMEs as a way to earn money quickly and rather to take a long-term view for their businesses.

Additionally, many stated that the procedures to obtain licenses for SMEs should be simplified to encourage new entrepreneurs.

They emphasized the need to enact legislation and executive resolutions to provide the proper support to this sector, as per the instructions issued by His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Emir of the State of Qatar.

Meanwhile, the state has already begun work towards providing for the logistics needs of the SMEs in the country, most

recently with the Jery Al Samur, providing 21 plots of land ranging in size from approximately 11,000 to 36,500 square meters. This comes on the heels of the award of three different plots of land by Manateq, to be developed into economic zones for SMEs, among them the over half a million square meter facility to be constructed and managed by Gulf Warehousing Company.

Small and Medium Enterprises take center stage in Qatar

GWC HIGHLIGHTS QATAR INFRASTRUCTUREWell Done! GWC achieves 100% accuracy in Qatar Airways stock count for 7th year running

Among the calls for assistance were recommendations to increase awareness programs, both to the general public as well as new entrepreneurs

USD 30 billion in projects awarded

within 2014, USD 276.3 billion total value of all projects currently in Qatar

Director of Business Solutions Mr. Sunil Kambrath receiving the GIL Global Best Practices 2015 Award

Qatar Airways Operations and Service Teamsreceiving certificate of stock count accuracy

Gulf Warehousing Company, the Leading Domestic Logistics Service Provider

Sources: Gulf Times, Al-Raya

All were in agreement of the central role SMEs shall play in the development of the nation




8

GWC HIGHLIGHTS QATAR INFRASTRUCTURE

Qatar is building a freight and passenger rail network that will span 525 kilometers when it is completed, as well as embarking on a major national road redevelopment program.

Transport by road is the only means of getting around Qatar and, with the road network seriously underdeveloped, congestion is rampant. During peak hours, trucks are banned from Doha, but principal arteries are still regularly clogged. This will only get worse as the population grows, visitor numbers increase and project activity builds, requiring manpower and supplies to be moved to and from sites around the country.

The freight railway will run from the industrial city of Ras Laffan in the northeast to the New Doha Port at Mesaieed in the southeast. The line will have a spur to the gas processing facilities in Dukhan in the west. When complete, it will have the capacity to carry 11 million tons a year of cargo.

The country’s metro project, meanwhile, is 18% complete, according to an announcement made by the Ministry of Transport HE Mr. Jassem Saif Al-Sulaiti. The USD 21 billion Doha Metro will play an important role in moving people around the city during the FIFA 2022 World Cup, although its final stages will not be completed until 2026. The metro will have four lines, with 93 stations spread Sources: Meed.com, Gulf Times, Al-Raya

Rail spearheads transportation plans in Qatar

over 354 kilometers of track. It includes connections to town centers, stadiums and commercial and residential areas, running underground in central Doha and above ground or along elevated sections in the city’s outskirts.

Directly addressing the problems with the roadways, Ashghal has been tasked with upgrading and expanding the road network in the capital and across Qatar.

It has divided this challenge

into two parts: the USD 20 billion expressway program will provide transportation links across the peninsula, connecting key cities, towns and villages with modern national freeways and urban arterial routes; and the USD 14.6 billion Local Roads and Drainage Program (LRDP) will upgrade and expand existing roads and drainage networks across the country.

The expressway program comprises 30 highway schemes around the country, including new and upgraded freeways, expressways and arterial roads, as well as major upgrades to existing roads. The program should deliver about 900 kilometers of new roads, as well as underpasses, flyovers and multiple-level interchanges.

Two of the major road projects most recently announced have been the Rawdat Rashed project and the Lusail Expressway. Rawdat Rashed is expected to be converted into an international expressway as a means to avoiding some of the major accidents occurring on the road. These accidents

occurred as a result of the long, single-lane roadway having poor support in terms of infrastructure and lighting. The 5.8 kilometer Lusail Expressway will meanwhile be the first in the country

to extend over infrastructure tunnels supporting drainage and electricity cables, in addition to the tunnels needed for the 1106 meter light rail transit (LRT) line. The project is nearly 40% complete, and is expected to be activated during

the second quarter of 2017.The country continues to

see progress in its other points of access. The New Doha International Airport Steering Committee is expected to tender construction work next year for the expansion of the hub at the Hamad International Airport. The upgrade will add 24 contact gates and extend

the terminal to 900,000 square meters, with capacity for 50 million passengers a year.

The New Doha Port continues its Phase 1 development plan, which will have a capacity of 2 million TEUs a year and 2 million tons of general cargo when it opens in 2016. By 2025, further phases will add a new container terminal, taking capacity to more than 12 million TEUs.

The port will include facilities for general cargo, offshore supply vessels, a terminal for the import of vehicles, and a large dock terminal. A new base for the Qatar Emiri Naval Forces will also be built offshore for the country’s navy and visiting naval vessels from around the world. Meanwhile, plans are underway to convert the current Doha Port so it can be used by cruise liners once cargo operations move to New Doha Port in 2016. In 2011, the government suggested 6,000 rooms on cruise ships would be used to accommodate football fans visiting Qatar for the World Cup.

Qatar is building a

freight and passenger rail network

that will span 525 kilometers

The USD 20 billion expressway program will provide transportation links across the peninsula, connecting key cities with modern national freeways and urban arterial routes; and the USD 14.6 billion Local Roads and Drainage Program (LRDP) will upgrade and expand existing roads and drainage networks across the country

In recognition of his leadership of one of the region’s most progressive logistics companies,

the Group CEO of Gulf Warehousing Company Q.S.C. (GWC) Mr. Ranjeev Menon was honored at the Top CEO 2015 awards as one of the 100 leading CEO’s in the region, ranking 15th overall.

Held on March 30th, 2015 at the Four Season Resort, Dubai, the Top CEO Awards 2015 ceremony was organized by business publication TRENDS magazine in conjunction with INSEAD business school, and paid tribute to business leaders whose success for their organisations is an instrumental factor in the continued growth of the region. Honoring business heads judged to have excelled in the

field of leadership, the awards are considered

the most credible of their kind in the region. This was the first year that the award was expanded to include all seven stock exchanges in the GCC, as only leaders the firms listed on the stock exchanges of Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman were eligible for ranking.

On a regional level, 700 companies from the Middle East’s seven stock exchanges were considered for the award, making the placement of GWC’s Group CEO as the 15th even more impressive, particularly for a company that only began trading in 2004. The fifth installment of the annual program was monitored by corporate governance

institute “Hawkamah” ensuring the Top CEO awards'

transparency, while International auditing firm Deloitte ensured the accuracy of the process

and data. The awarding committee at Mediaquest, the publication and events company behind the initiative, recognize outstanding company CEOs based on factors including growth, profitability, transparency and corporate governance. For GWC, it was the drive Group CEO Mr. Ranjeev Menon embodied and instilled in the company to be the preferred provider in the industry, in terms of service, scale and proficiency. In the few short years of his tenure, the company has become the fastest growing logistics provider in the region, providing exceptional expertise, unsurpassed logistics infrastructure, and cutting-edge technology in service of the customized needs of the clientele.

“It was indeed an honor to be considered among so many distinguished individuals, and to have the company’s achievements held in high regard,” said Group CEO Mr. Ranjeev Menon. “It is gratifying to note that our company has fulfilled our vision of providing the most comprehensive solutions backed by a robust infrastructure, and will continue on our way to be the service provider of choice.”

Group CEO Mr. Ranjeev Menon Ranked 2nd Top CEO in Qatar and 15th Top CEO in GCC

GWC Group CEOMr. Ranjeev Menon

Artist's Impression




10

WAREHOUSING NEWSEng. Ali Abdullatif Al Misnad elected to GWC Board

During the company’s assembly general meeting, the assembly elected elected Eng. Ali Abdulatif Al Misnad as an Independent board member in addition to the previous board members for a period of three years (2015 – 2017). The election took place under the supervision of the representa-tives from the Ministry of Economy and Commerce. The new board member is a respected member of the Qatar Chamber of Commerce as well as a renowned business man in the State of Qatar.

GWC conducts realistic fire drill at RLIC site

Gulf Warehousing Company initiated a joint fire drill with RLIC firefighting and paramedics team at the end of the first quarter 2015. The objective was to enhance GWC-ERT competence to respond to emergency situation in coordination with RLIC ERT. These “live” exercises featured realistic scenarios provided the awareness necessary to survive such incidences in the unlikely event they were to occur, such as evacuating of healthy and injured persons out of the facilities and containing fires within the HAZMAT areas. The company’s Quality, Health, Safety, and Environment department intends to conduct such practice runs in all GWC-ERT facilities.

Gulf Warehousing Company (Q.S.C.)Head Office – D Ring Road

Doha - QatarTel: +974 4402 3555Fax: +974 4402 3698Logistics Village Qatar

Industrial Area Doha - Qatar

Tel: +974 4406 8261Fax: +974 4460 6846

[email protected] www.gulfwarehousing.com

Qatar’s massive financial cushion from its hydrocarbon market might suggest the country is unlikely to face difficulties in ensuring basic food needs are met. Food security crises tend to be located in poverty-stricken parts of the world where climatic conditions are challenging. Some would say that Qatar does not fit this mould, even if it does face serious water scarcity and has limited arable land available. However, the Gulf state is heavily reliant on food imports, which account for an estimated 90% of its food intake. In the UK, the comparable figure is 40%. For most Arab countries, 90% is the upper limit, and most are import-reliant for 50-90 % of their consumption.

Abundant oil and gas revenues are of little use to Qatar if it cannot fully ensure its ability to feed its population in a crisis. This realisation led the then heir-apparent, now His Highness the Emir Sheikh

Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani in 2008 to establish a national food security program. Five years on, the Qatar National Food Security Program (QNFSP), chaired by Mr. Fahad bin Mohammed al-Attiya,

have prepared a national plan intended to ensure food security in a country with just 74 millimeters of annual rainfall and an estimated 28,000 hectares of its 1 million-hectare landmass considered arable.

According to the QNFSP, Qatar’s food imports are going to exact an increasingly heavy price in the future. Imports are expected to rise 153% to USD 3.3 billion a year in the coming 10 years due to rising population growth. One glaring reason for the food security crisis is the fact that most of the infrastructure that makes up Qatar’s food system was developed in the 1980s, when the population was under 300,000. Today, it is approximately 2.5 million and rising. Money is not an issue for the country’s authorities, but pure cash does not equate to food security.

One solution, therefore, is the provision of highly efficient supply chain infrastructure capable of

handling the massive import needs of the nation at the most cost-effective rates possible, minimizing waste wherever possible.

Minimizing waste begins upon receiving the items from the teams transporting the foodstuffs to the warehouses. Storage premises should be protected from unauthorized access, and proper inspection of incoming and outgoing products must be performed. These inspections ensure that food items are not blighted or compromised in any fashion, as such issues could spread across all food materials, potentially spoiling entire batches.

The precautions that need to be taken to ensure a product retains its efficacy and integrity vary greatly between products. Key factors like temperature, humidity, and even exposure to light may need to be monitored and controlled throughout the entire supply chain. Selecting the right type of

The Role of logistics in national food security

storage therefore, from among options such as ambient, dry, cold, and frozen storage, as well as types of racking, from general to very-narrow aisle (VNA) racking systems, also keep stored items safe from harm. These must be managed and monitored closely on dedicated warehouse management systems (WMS) to ensure that all available spaces are used to their maximum potential, so that arriving items can be immediately placed in the racking system upon arrival to the warehouses.

Storage must also be maintained within a tight range of temperatures, and all staff involved in the supply chain must be adequately trained, with a good grounding of the aims, objectives, and techniques used on site. An instance of this at GWC is their Building Management System (BMS), which automatically monitors set temperatures in

defined areas such as temperature controlled (TC), Chiller, or Freezer rooms, and alarms are set for temperatures rising too high or too low as triggers. Additionally, air filtration systems clear the air from any dust or possible blight that might cause harm to the stored foodstuffs.

The nation has invested heavily in its aim to increase the volume of domestic production from the current level of 8 to 40 % by 2025.

Even should it succeed, the national reliance on imports will in most probability remain a key factor in securing the nation’s food resources, and both domestic production and international imports will continue to need the support of strong logistics infrastructure in the storage and management of the nation’s food stockpile.

Sources: Meed.com

Imports are

expected to

rise 153% to

USD 3.3 billion a year

in the coming

10 years

due to rising

population

The precautions that need to be taken to ensure a product retains its efficacy and integrity vary greatly between products. Key factors like temperature, humidity, and even exposure to light may need to be monitored and controlled throughout the entire supply chain

GWC Frozen Storage Warehouse

GWC Cold Storage Warehouse




12

OIL AND GAS INTERVIEW

The production and exploration of liquid natural gas, crude oil and other liquids rely heavily on the structures and supports established for the off-shore and on-shore facilities by the major energy companies, for which they have invested millions. None of these structures are produced within the State of Qatar and must be carefully shipped from their countries of origin then transported to the operation site. In order to accomplish this, these operations must be handled with the utmost care and precision.

The first quarter of 2015 saw GWC break two of its own personal records for super-heavy lifts in the State of Qatar, first for heavy lift and second for longest item delivered. The link spoke to the Director of Freight Forwarding Mr. Bobby George regarding the company’s achievements in the field of

heavy lifts, and the special considerations given to each such project.

Question 1: What were the specifics of the company’s heaviest lift to date?

Response: We completed the transport of a nearly 500-ton distillation tower on behalf of Qatar Gas Operating Company (QGOC) from the Ras Laffan Sea Port to the Ras Laffan Refinery Expansion Project 2 (RL2) site as part of its continued project

logistics contract with Chiyoda CTCI Joint Venture (CCJV). The distillation tower transported is more officially known as Item #82-C1201, and performs one of the most common industrial processes in the oil and gas industry, separating the chemical constituents of crude oil, heating the crude oil stream to separate it in specific subsets of carbon molecules. This requires a high degree of delicacy

despite the extremely large size of the equipment used, and therefore required a special degree of care in the transportation of the components. The tower arrived at the Ras Laffan Sea Port from the Ulsan Sea Port of the country of origin South Korea. The shipment consisted of 3 Columns, with each column weighing nearly 500 tons, and spanned Length 64.45 X Width 8.59 X Height 8.51 meters.

Question 2: What about the longest lift?

Response: We completed the delivery of two separation columns on behalf of Punji Lloyd, a contractor for Qatar Solar Technology (QSTec), which at 52 and 54 meters long each became the longest objects the company had ever transported. Weighing in at 28 and 47 tons respectively, the company was tasked with transporting the columns from the Ras Laffan Industrial City Port to the QSTec Polysilicon project site in Ras Laffan after it’s arrival from Hamriyah Free Zone in the UAE.

Question 3: What steps do you follow in order to ensure a safe delivery for these heavy lifts?

Response: A lot of preparation and planning goes into these projects, including the drafting of a method statement to be referred to in any contingency. We include various plans of actions, including the cases of major or minor deviations from the plan. We highlight the hierarchy followed on site, review the risk assessment and safe job analysis before performing any operation, as well as go over the minimum personnel protective equipment to be worn on site.

After agreeing to all of these details, we subsequently layout the operational procedure. This can include work plans and drawings, review of safety items such as weather concerns or plant

activity, the completion of all appropriate checklists and safety permits from all the relevant authorities, a check of the placement for all banners and barricades that define the safety boundaries of the work

areas, as well as other considerations. We then coordinate with the customs, traffic and sea port authorities to plot a course to be followed by the transportation trailers following the site.

Question 4: What sort of equipment is needed to transport such large objects?

Response: The items arrive in one piece, and cannot be segmented due to their highly sensitive nature, and therefore regular trailers simply will not suffice in such cases. This is when we make use of specially commissioned self-propelled modular trailers (SPMTs), which can be attached or separated as needed depending on the length of the item to be lifted. For the 500 ton distillation tower, we used a 34 axle/4-file configuration, while the longest transport required 36 Axle/2-file SPMTs.

Question 5: What is your reaction to the company performing heavier and heavier lifts within the State of Qatar?

Response: It is exciting to achieve a new first, though with the level of experience we have achieved in super heavy lifts and transports, we were more than capable of handling a project of this scale. GWC Projects has extensive experience working for major engineering and oil and gas clients, providing solutions especially tailored for their very specific needs, regardless of size, scope, or destination. We have every trust in our specialized and experienced teams’ ability to face the unique challenges presented by this and every other specialized logistics project.

MovingMountainsThe project logisticsneeds of theOil and Gas industry

500-ton tower delivered

54-meter long delivery

Bobby George Director - Freight Fowarding

14 ISSUE 314THE



QATAR ART MOVEMENT

APRIL|2015

Gulf Warehousing Company Q.S.C. (GWC) and Constantine UK have announced a collaborative alliance under which “GWC-Constantine Fine Art” will execute fine art logistics in the State of Qatar. The partnership will allow institutional and private collectors, museums and galleries to obtain the highest international standards of fine art logistics here in Qatar.

Constantine is the UK’s premiere fine art packing, installation, transportation, and storage company for over 130 years. The Royal Warrant granted by Her Majesty the Queen is further testament to Constantine’s commitment to offering the highest standards of service, quality and excellence.

GWC Constantine Fine Art will provide their services to all indoor and outdoor installations, events, exhibitions, and auctions hosted in Qatar. Their service offerings will include packing/unpacking, crating, transporting, installing, shipping (import and export) and customs clearing. All fine art collections and irreplaceable items will be strictly handled by expert art handlers.

In March 2015, GWC Fine Arts unveiled two new trucks specifically designed for the fine art movements in accordance with the highest European standards. Attending the unveiling were

representatives of GWC, Constantine, and Qatar Museums, all of whom were invited to inspect and inquire after the new vehicles. The 10-ton and 20-ton trucks were fitted with air ride suspension to absorb any and all shocks at point of impact, keeping the contents inside stable. The interior has also been fitted with specialized flooring, and the walls have been lined with industry-specific bars, allowing crates to be lashed and fixed to the walls, further reducing movement of the truck contents. With the additional temperature control measures in place within the vehicles, the transported artwork may be transported as needed without exposure to external factors and influences.

Among the many exhibitions that GWC Fine Art has supported was the “Here and There” exhibition, still on display at Al-Riwaq gallery, and one of the initiatives of the Qatar-Brazil Year of Culture 2014. A travelling exhibition GWC Fine Art coordinated with their team to bring 52 crates of artwork from the previous site in Oslo, Norway. More traditionally minded pieces were on display at the “Mal Lawal” (From the Past) exhibition, with antique radios, guns, daggers, pots, clothes, and other artistic materials gathered from 5 different GCC countries to be displayed at the Doha Exhibition Center.

GWC Fine Art handled every aspect of renowned Iranian American visual artist Shirine Neshat’s first exhibition in the Middle East, from collecting the shipment of 86 pieces in New York City, packing, shipping, clearing and installing them at Mathaf (the Arab Museum of Modern Art) in Doha, followed by providing the de-installation and re-export of the pieces to New York.

Special care was taken for the Yousef Ahmad exhibition held in the Katara QM Gallery 10, which was composed entirely of dried palm leaves contorted and rolled into calligraphy and geometric shapes. 45 pieces were transported to the exhibition, 4 of which from Dubai, and one of which was so large that it would not immediately fit on the transports reserved for these types of operations.

“GWC has become one of the rare companies in the region equipped to take on the highly specialized activity of transporting works of art by constantly adding to its warehousing and transportation assets in this way,” explained GWC Group CEO Mr. Ranjeev Menon.

“It is one of the key factors that have developed the faith in our services as evidenced by the frequent contracts we continue to receive from some of Qatar’s most renowned museums, galleries and art collectors,” he added.

GWC, Constantine Enter Into Collaborative Partnership

GWC and Constantine representatives in front of fine art logistics vehicle

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