Shell to provide services to 25 Qatar Gas LNG carriers
Shell to provide services to 25 Qatar Gas LNG carriers
BY A STAFF REPORTER /KHALEEJ TIMES 12 July 2007
DUBAI — Shell International Trading and Shipping Company Ltd has formally become the provider of shipping and marine services to some 25 newly built liquefied natural gas, or LNG, carriers of Qatar Gas Transport Company Ltd (Nakilat).
In a statement, the companies said they formalised in a ceremonial signing yesterday the master services agreement they had drawn up in November 2006. “A key element of the agreement is the commitment to the development of Nakilat’s shipping expertise, in support of its aspiration to become a fully integrated LNG shipping company,” it said.
Faisal Al Suwaidi, Vice-Chairman, Nakilat, cited the importance of having in place a world-claxx LNG shipping operation, saying that Qatar is the world’s leading producer of LNG. “With the signing of this agreement, we are setting the foundations for the development of all the necessary LNG shipping capabilities to meet our growing global requirements,” he said.
The statement said the 25-year deal calls for Shell to provide Nakilat a full range of shipping services including staff recruitment, training and operational management of the vessels. It added that the operations management of the ships has to be transferred to Nakilat within 12 years of the delivery of the last vessel.
Linda Cook, executive director, Royal Dutch Shell, said the company has added another dimension to its growing partnership with Qatar, noting Shell’s 40-year experience in transporting LNG around the world safely and reliably.
“We have already begun to recruit and train the required personnel to make the partnership a success,” Cood said.
The statement said Nakilat’s fleet of LNG vessels will be put into service over the next four years
My favorite photo of the day – 13 August 2007
A painter getting ready to give a coat of aluminium paint to the lamp poll – a scene from Delhi
Free bus service to save lives
Free bus service to save lives
By Ashfaq Ahmed, Staff Reporter/GULF NEWS Published: August 13, 2007, 22:48
Dubai: The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) is hoping pedestrian deaths will drop once it introduces its free shuttle bus service.
The RTA has taken this new initiative to encourage people to use the free bus service and curb traffic accidents between the first interchange and Trade Centre roundabout on Shaikh Zayed Road.
“Some 14 pedestrians have already died while 39 were injured in various road accidents so far this year on Shaikh Zayed Road,” said Mohammad Obaid Al Mulla, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Public Transport Agency at the RTA.
A total of 20 people have died on this road during the first six months of this year. Out of 135 total road accident deaths, 56 pedestrians had been run over, the RTA statistics revealed.
Final arrangements
Badr Mattar Al Siri, Director of the Traffic Department at the RTA said: “With the launch of the new service, pedestrian accidents this year would drop. Last year 120 pedestrians died on Dubai Roads compared to just 47 in 1997.”
Initially two buses will shuttle on this route at an interval of half an hour. However, the date of launching and exact time of operation will be announced soon, once the RTA makes final arrangements. It is expected to start next month.
Al Mulla said the provision of such services comes within the vision of the RTA to provide safe and smooth transport for all.
“The service will not only help reduce pedestrians deaths but also reduce traffic on this stretch of the road as motorists can leave their cars and use buses to commute between offices and hotels in this important commercial and residential area,” he said.
Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre, Dubai Financial Market and a number of hotels are all in the area between the Trade Centre Roundabout and the Defence Roundabout.
Al Siri called upon pedestrians to take extra caution by crossing roads from designated places only.
Danger spots
“The RTA has also fenced a number of danger spots, which have witnessed accidents where pedestrians had been run over, which accounted for 38 per cent of the total accident fatalities in 2006.
“It is an alarming indicator because pedestrian mortality rate in developed countries ranges from 15 per cent to 18 per cent of the total road accident deaths,” Al Siri said.
Residents working on Shaikh Zayed Road have welcomed the free bus shuttle service.
“It is a great idea. I have to commute between offices on both sides of Shaikh Zayed Road for my meetings. Now I can leave my car and take the bus,” said Rameez Ali, a salesman.
He said it would also save him from the hassle of finding parking.
The RTA is also spending Dh70 million on pedestrian bridges and signal-controlled zebra crossings in Dubai to reduce deaths.
At least 17 new crossings will be completed in 2008. In addition, 47 pedestrian crossings are being constructed as part of Dubai Metro Stations Project, 12 of which are located at the Dubai Metro stations on Shaikh Zayed Road.
Pedestrians face hefty fines and jail for ‘carelessness’
Traffic enforcement officers have sent out a strong warning against reckless pedestrians who cross roads at undesignated areas, thus causing accidents and endangering the lives of themselves and others.
Pedestrians have been warned against crossing roads irresponsibly and from the undesignated areas as they might be slapped with a hefty Dh500 fine or jailed, Salah Bu Farrousha, Head of Traffic Public Prosecution, told Gulf News yesterday.
“If a pedestrian crosses the road carelessly and [is] responsible for an accident … endangering his own life besides the lives of others [motorists] then he will be slapped with a maximum fine of Dh500 or land in prison.
“Crossing a road in an undesignated spot is an act punishable by law,” said Bu Farrousha.
Have your say
Will you use this free bus service? Do you think it can really help save lives?
100% Emirati
100% Emirati
By Shireena Al Nowais, Staff Reporter / GULF NEWS Published: August 12, 2007, 23:00
In a small corner on the second floor of the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (ADACH), aka the Cultural Foundation, is an invincible time machine.
As you step through this time machine you are transported to a time in the UAE when television, the internet, chairs and other modern-day luxuries did not exist.
Veiled women sit crosslegged in a woollen tent sipping freshly brewed Arabic coffee. One woman is quietly weaving a traditional dress with gold lining. After the dress is completed and she is satisfied with her work, she pins it to a wall made of palm fronds where it joins a colourful array of traditional dresses waiting to be sold.
Preserving culture
Mohammad Khalaf Al Mazroui, Director-General of ADACH, says that the authority puts emphasis on traditional Emirati crafts as part of its strategy to preserve Abu Dhabi’s cultural heritage, hence the creation of a “corner” or an outlet where traditional handicrafts are displayed.
“With globalisation and free trade, local products have entered a mismatched competition with imported ones. On the other hand, most of our traditional handicrafts contribute to the promotion of tourism and feature the habits and traditions of the people of Abu Dhabi, the UAE and the entire Gulf region,” he said. 
Traditional arts
The outlet, located at Delma Corner in the Cultural Foundation, features Emirati women performing the arts of sado (wool/cotton weaving), teli (embroidery), palm tree frond weaving and henna.
Samples of Emirati traditional handicrafts are available for sale and all profits are rolled back into the project. Thus visitors directly contribute to the preservation of Emirati traditional crafts, some of which are close to disappearing.
Making a point
Al Mazroui made it clear that through this project ADACH also aims to show visitors how these folk arts are as beautiful and creative as other arts.
“Formal and folk arts have the same roots, and most of the world’s renowned artists have drawn their creative works from folklore. Thus, craftsmen and folk artists deserve from us all respect and recognition,” he said.
Did you know?
The most popular form of craft in Abu Dhabi is sado — the art of wool/cotton weaving. This handwork item is quite popular among tourists.
Teli is another well-known local craft in Abu Dhabi. It is basically the Arab-style embroidery that adorns women’s clothes.
The weaving of palm tree fronds is also a popular craft in the emirate. The end results are beautiful baskets and bags.
ClicksandWrites 
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