gold forecast in first year of production (+30% on PFS) at AISC $651/oz
gold forecast over first six years for 200,000ozpa (+20% on PFS) at AISC $804/oz
Updated Open Pit Probable Ore Reserves increased to 34.4Mt at 1.3 g/t Au for 1.45Moz using US$1,407/oz (68% increase over the PFS and 78% of Indicated Mineral Resources
Life of Mine (LOM) mining inventory inclusive of Ore Reserves of 44.9Mt at 1.2 g/t Au for 1.7Moz gold recovered (54% increase over the PFS) for a strip ratio of 6:1 w:o (-26% on PFS)
Minerals Minerals
In the UK it has been a great time of change over the last fortnight. With the recent passing of Queen Elizabeth II, many people around the world have felt the effects of the end of her 70year reign. Here at Littlegate, we are very much aware of the impacts that this will have had across many countries, and particularly with some of the companies that we speak to. That being said, with the beginning of a new era it is important to look forward to how times will change and improve.
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In October’s issue of Endeavour, the idea of change and innovation is a key topic throughout this month’s magazine. Firstly, in our chat with Invester’s Trust Project we chatted about how they are combining their twenty-year experience with fresh ideas, giving us an exciting insight into the world of investment. Further afield many other businesses we spoke to are receiving a brand-new lick of paint as they combat the ever-changing challenges that face the business market. This is particularly the case for the work we have seen in the logistics and heavy-duty industry, such as Super Star Forwarders and RAK Logistics, who are pulling the weight to ensure the efficiency of their vital sector. We can also see great steps taken in sustainability within the oil and gas businesses we spoke to, including New Britain Palm Oil, and Paraco Gas, as well as many more. Although this may sound contradictory, it is really good to witness how they are talking such steps to undo the damaging narrative that often precedes the oil and gas industry. Lastly, we also returned to our discussion with Hong Kong Shipowners Association whom after 5 years are still making key waves in the industry.
A couple of new and exciting features can also be found in the new Diversity and Inclusion sector that in turn will discuss refreshing and forwardthinking initiatives taken by businesses across the world to help undo old-age discourses, paving a way for a brighter future in global business. This month’s issue also features a review of the brandnew Mercedes Benz EQC 400, therefore bringing lots of new and innovative features to get your teeth stuck into!
by Lucy Pilgrim
At least five people have been tragically killed after a 7.5 magnitude earthquake struck Papa New Guinea earlier this month.
The powerful earthquake shuddered Papa New Guinea, damaging many buildings and triggering repeated landslides. A report from the United States Goelogical Survey reveals that the earthquake struck at a depth of 61 km (38 miles), about 67 km (41 miles) from the eastern town of Kainantu on the morning of the 11th of September.
Kessy Sawang, a local member of parliament, said that at least 2 people were killed in remote mountain villages, with four others airlifted in hospital in critical condition. Nearby in Wau, Koranga Alluvial Mining said that three miners were buried alive.
Due to many weeks of tenacious rainfall, flash floods have devasted Pakistan, killing more than 1,500 people.
Over the last year it seems that the South Asian region is the epicenter of the climate crisis, as this event follows devastating monsoon rains in July and August, greatly affecting its 220 million population.
The statistics of the event provide a more detailed picture of the affects, as there has been over 1.8 million houses destroyed and nearly 100,000 livestock deaths. This means that much of Pakistan’s production and output will be affected as people lose their homes and livelihoods.
Consequently, the Pakistani government has estimated that the financial losses from the flood total $30 billion, with approximately four million hectares of diverse agricultural land destroyed. As such, both Pakistani officials and the UN have stated the cause to be the climate change, due to the fact that at least 81 of the country’s 160 districts have been categorised as “calamity hit” by the floods.
230 whales have been found on the West coast of Tasmania, Australia.
The whales appeared on Macquarie Harbour on the island’s West coast, where the region has a history of stranding. Thankfully, over half of the whales remain alive.
The whales in question are believed to be pilot whales, and are one of the largest oceanic whales. They are also highly sociable mammals, known to travel in large, close-knit groups that require large amounts of communication. It is said that the stranding may have occurred because the whales were “misnavigated” due to a sick or disorientated leader, says wildlife scientist Vanessa Pirotta
Many experts have been flown in to help rectify the issue. However, many say that it could be a “complex operation”, due to Tasmania’s location. This is due to the fact that Macquarie Harbour is a large shallow inlet in a very rural area of the island.
Although it remains a mystery as to why it happened, some experts have said that it is due to the effects of climate change, particularly changes in the environment, water temperature, or prey habits that could throw the whales off.
Willliam Ruto was placed as Kenya’s new president, after having a resounding win in the peaceful election.
Like the majority of the world at the moment, Kenya is facing continuous economic challenges in an increasingly difficult global market. As such, Ruto addressed such matters in his inaugural speech, highlighting some of challenges faced by the nation, including joblessness, escalating prices, and the issue of the regulation of entrepreneurs.
However, many have become to challenge Ruto’s words as just days after his speech in which he stated that fuel and food subsidies have been ineffective and expensive, Rutto ordered the partial removal of petrol subsidiaries.
Instead, it seems Ruto hopes to make improvements to the agricultural sector, urging that the cost-of-living crisis shall be combatted by improving inputs of fertiliser to agricultural producers, and consequently “empowering producers”.
Forces in the Ethiopian region of Tigray are accusing Eritrea troops of launching a full-scale offensive, consequently causing intense fighting along the border. This marks an escalation of the renewal of fighting that occurred in August this year.
A spokesperson for the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), Getachew Reda, stated that Eritrea “is deploying its entire army as well as reservists. Our forces are heroically defending their positions.”
Many reports of fighting come from civilians and officials on the ground. Two aid workers highlighted that there was intense fighting occurring across the border, including a shelling of a disabled persons camp. Furthermore, a humanitarian worker in Adigrat, a town in the northern region, told The Associated Press that Eritrean forces were shelling the town’s surrounding areas.
The war in Tigray, which reignited in August after a ceasefire earlier in the year, is estimated to have killed tens of thousands of people, and left millions of people around the country bereft of basic supplies.
Sexual abuse allegations have been made against aid workers at a South Sudan UN Camp. An independent investigation conducted by The New Humanitarian reveals that after seven years of reports, the allegations have erupted in recent months.
The recent reports at the Malakel camp come at a difficult time, with the UN revealing that as many as 5000 displaced individuals may be going towards the camp soon. This has caused current residents to worry how this up-coming influx might increase the incidents of sexual abuse and exploitation, on top of those already happening.
Further damage is done as the residents have stated that such incidents have sadly been largely unchecked, even though the UN sent in a taskforce recently to combat the problem. The same sentiments are also reflected by many of the Aid workers at the camp, who told reporters that accusations of abuse began coming in shortly after the camp opened in 2013. However, The New Humanitarian found that the scale of abuse was a much greater problem, after analysing several UN and NGO Documents.
Two Haitian journalists have been shot dead whilst conducting reports in the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince. Local journalist association reports that gang violence that likely killed still is rampant across the city.
The reporters were fatally shot and burnt inPort-au-Prince whilst reporting on increasing gun violence in the poverty-stricken region of Cite Soleil. Their bodies were never recovered.
FS News Haiti recently released a statement on the matter saying: “We announce with great sorrow the death of our journalist and reporter Frantzsen Charles and another colleague. They were killed by bandits while reporting in Cite Soliel. We demand justice for our colleague.”
The association has called on Haiti’s government to address rising instability throughout the city, stating that the murders are “further proof of the instability of the state to protect lives and property, which is nothing other than a violation of human rights.”
Exclusively in the US has begun the launch of audiobooks in order to combat the wellestablished reign of Amazon-owned Audible.
A brand-new section of Spotify is being trialed that allows the million 65 million of its subscribers (Premium or not) to listen to audio books at their pleasure. Spotify offers an expansive library of more 300,000 audiobook titles, with each book available for purchase or preview. This seems like a natural progression since they also offer podcasts on the site.
In a recent press release Spotify stated that: “This is just the beginning of Spotify’s audiobook journey. We’ve been working to create a seamless audiobook experience, and we’ll continue to build and innovate on this in the future.”
The 77th session of the UN General Assembly started last week in New York, having been the first one since the pandemic in 2020. The main
topics up for discussion are Putin and the war in Ukraine, the cost-of-living crisis and taxation.
It seems that this particular general assembly is needed now more than ever, as UN Chief Guetters states that nations are “gridlocked in colossal global dysfunction.” So what have been the main takeaways?
First and foremost, there has been great discussion over Putin’s threatening of nuclear missiles in the West and partial mobilisation, as their references to cold war sentiments from Biden, and a declaration that the invasion of Ukraine “tramples” the UN charter, reflecting many global leaders feelings on the matter.
Climate change and the environment was also a topic for discussion as Biden warns “We don’t have much time left” to tackle the crisis. Consequently, many of climate change’s affects could be felt throughout the assembly as Kenyan President William Ruto calls for action on climate change after Horn of Africa is suffering its worst drought since 1981.
It is therefore now more than ever that the value of the United Nations is highlighted to the world.
After a history of rocky relations between the two countries, could this mark the beginning of stronger ties.
Last week Egyptian President Abdel Fattah elSisi met with Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani in Doha to sign a number of deals between the two countries. It is said that many of the deals concern improvements in business sectors and the economy, signifying a “new era in relations.”
Closer ties between Egypt and Qatar have been building over the last few months as the Emir Sheikh Tamir visited Egypt back in June. Such a visit, alongside the deals signed recently, mark a huge milestone. Particularly if we consider that only in 2017 Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain boycotted Qatar in an effort to try and force Doha to change its regional policies.
Since the boycott came to an end last year, the relations between Qatar and Egypt are on the mend as both countries wish to go into the future as economic allies.
In consequence of a string of earthquakes hitting Southern Iran, at least 5 people have been killed, and 44 injured.
Four separate earthquakes hit the southern region of Bandar e- Lengeh on the 17th , one of which registered at a staggering 6.1 magnitude. Twelve other villages in the surrounding region were also seriously damaged.
The greatest depth of damage occurred in the village of Sayehkhosh, where many houses in the area were badly damaged.
This comes after a recent history of Seismic waves in the area, as the USGS stated that the “earthquake sequence” was “relatively common”. This statement is supported by the fact that last year, at least one person died after a succession of earthquakes hit Iran in November.
The UN has called for an independent investigation into how Mahsa Amini died within the morality police custody in Iran, sparking great unrest in the country.
Many Iranian authorities have denied that the 22-year-old was mistreated or beaten whilst in custody. In contrast, her death has sparked mass protest across the country, including the capital city of Tehran, where anti-government chants are taking place.
The protesters are ultimately calling a dismantling of the morality police in the country, known as Gasht-e Ershad, or Islamic guidance patrol. They have expanded many of their patrols in recent months, targeting women in particular for not wearing their Hijab correctly.
It has recently been reported that the deaths have started to occur due to the major protests in Tehran, although this is yet to be confirmed by officials. Women across the country have also burnt their hijabs in direct protest to Amini’s arrest.
President Putin announced a “partial mobilisation” of his troops. This effectively means that he will deploy 300,000 Russian citizens in the military reserves to be called up to serve in Ukraine.
This is a major escalation in an already eightmonth war, and follows a series of strategic moves towards the offer of referendums in many regions of the Ukraine, in the offer to join Russia.
In a televised address Putin stated: “in order to protect our motherland, its sovereignty and territorial integrity, and to ensure the safety of our people and people in the liberated territories, I consider it necessary to support […] a partial mobilisation in the Russian Federation.”
help ease the cost-of-living crisis and the harsh increase in energy bills in the past year.
This would ultimately mean capping the profits of renewable and nuclear electricity producers, and taxing all the windfall profits of oil and gas companies from March.
Power generators that gained profits using nuclear, wind, and solar energy have greatly escalated due to the tariffs that are linked to the wholesale price of natural gas, which massively increased after the announcement of the war in Ukraine. The wholesale price currently stands at 550% of what it was a year ago.
Consequently, by having such a huge windfall tax on oil and gas companies, more money can be spent on helping households across the country combat the energy crisis.
Elizabeth’s funeral on the 19th September amassed a staggering viewership of approximately 5 billion, beating the moon landing back in 1969, making it the most watched broadcast ever.
The magnanimous broadcast of the funeral was the first of its kind since the state funeral of Sir Winston Churchill in 1965, and she was also the first British monarch to have a funeral found in Westminster Abbey since 1760.
It is therefore no wonder that so many people flocked to the streets of London to gaze upon the procession and pay their respects. This also comes after over 250,000 people were in the queue to see the Queen’s coffin in the days prior to the funeral.
There is no doubt that such a memorable event, for such a long serving monarch, shall go down as a key event in modern history.
The European Union proposes plans to hit energy companies with an $140 billion windfall tax, to
In recent years there has been a general consensus that diversity and inclusion in the workplace is a positive change to combat many years of discrimination that can materialise in many forms. Consequently, many industries and businesses across the world have made a conscious effort to promote change into their employment sphere, breaking the mold of wellestablished prejudices, or historical tensions.
In South Africa, a vital policy was introduced to help eliminate racial tensions that have dominated the country for decades. This takes form in the Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment Act (BBBEE). Its implementation in 2003 marked a radical change in the efforts towards integration by the
South African government. The effort towards integration could be seen in the conscious effort by businesses to introduce more black people into the workplace, as well as supporting black businesses, and giving back to local black communities.
The implementation of the BBBEE is an extension of the Employment Equity Act (1998), that was put in place in the post-Apartheid state of South Africa. It is important to note that that in the 1990s and early 2000’s, the new government enacted more progressive legislature that helped promote greater steps towards diversity in the mainstream economy and corporate world.
Today, the positive impacts of BBBEE are far reaching, namely in ownership, management control, support for suppliers, socio-economic development, and other enterprises. Consequently, the number of black owned formal businesses doubled from 2002 to 2019. Furthermore, the government incentive to comply with the initiative means that many black communities and businesses across South Africa have greatly benefitted from this refreshing and forward-thinking initiative.
Written by Lucy Pilgrim
At Investors Trust, the word trust is not only a financial term but a key promise. Fundamentally, Investors Trust (“ITA”) believes in a strong and efficient global network. Therefore, when we spoke to the media and communications manager of ITA, we got a brilliant sense of how they are combining their established twenty-year expertise, with a fresh and innovative strategy to encourage an expanding global mindset in the financial investment sector.
As Investors Trust marks its twentieth anniversary, it is immediately clear that their leading services and wide array of unit-linked investment products have allowed them to become a global power in the industry. Comprising over 200 employees across the globe, ITA is a key component in the bridge between financial advisors and investors. This is due to their expertise in providing flexible products to reach individual goals like education or retirement savings, as well as their established relationships with financial advisors around the world who sell to the end client. Unlike many others in the financial sector, ITA offers a secure account management platform for clients and financial advisors. This separates ITA from a lot of its competitors as it enables its financial advisors to access all their clients’ portfolios readily in one place, wherever they may be. This not only benefits the advisors but the clients as well, as they also have access to the platform, so they too can check their accounts, balances and payment timetables. Therefore, their fully electronic operation is one of the many aspects that greatly differentiates ITA. When speaking to Lindsay Paris, their media and communications manager, it was clear that she was very passionate about this aspect of the business:
“What separates us from our competitors is that we’ve been around for twenty years, we have the wisdom, we have the history, but we are also youthful and innovative in our nature. We are much more modern compared to our competitors. Being in the creative space, it’s been amazing to see what we’ve been able to do considering we have the world at our fingertips, to design, create and help people connect electronically. In recent years, we developed a mobile app to house the latest company news, all marketing collateral as well as new tools and calculators to support business on the go and reduce the printing and shipping of materials. Diminish the paper trail and build up more green ways of doing business, that’s always a success for me.”
Lindsay has been at ITA for nearly 10 years and over this time has overseen the company go from strength to strength. Lindsay was first hired as a copywriter, being responsible for the website content, brochure etc. and quickly became an integral part of the design team. It was therefore with the eventual position of media and communications
manager that great expansion could be seen within the marketing and design of the company, such as the marketing content, social media management, app development and much more. Lindsay emphasises that such development was encouraged by the company’s ethos of openness and adaptability, as new ideas are greatly welcomed and encouraged. It is therefore no wonder that the company is in constant regeneration.
When speaking to Lindsay, it was clear that you cannot pinpoint ITA to one location, as their expert influence spreads across many continents. But whilst celebrating their twentieth anniversary, it is important to take a step back and see how far the company has come. ITA was first regulated out in the Cayman Islands and operated mostly in Latin America. And yet, the owners soon took the initiative to diversify the business as smarter and more complex investments were made.
The owners, being from the region and serving as financial advisors in Latin America, saw a gap in the market and pioneered the business to greater lengths. This is showcased by recent
developments such as the licensing of their Puerto Rico office. Operating as one of their subsidiaries in a wide variety of jurisdictions, it combines the early sentiments of the business, with the wider global dynamics that have driven the business forward. Further afield, their opening of the Malaysia office in 2012 allowed access to the Asian market. Consequently, alongside the Cayman Islands and Puerto Rico, Malaysia was viewed as a natural progression as a nearby and familiar region for business in Asia. These three regions subsequently set Investors Trust apart from its competitors. And yet, alongside these vital jurisdictions, ITA can also boast offices in Uruguay, Hong Kong and Dubai, allowing greater global business. This also means that ITA’s leading excellence is built from pulling together lots of cultures and backgrounds, making it a greatly diverse operation.
ITA’s product family includes both Evolution and Platinum plans to all their international financial advisors, with the promise of delivering on any requirement and providing world-leading management. Further products also include reliable
global diversification seen in the range of stock market indexes that they offer, which stems from its two-decade history. The Access Portfolio bond product provides even greater diversification with its open-architecture structure.
As we have seen with many of the companies that we talk to, corporate social responsibility is a key element of the business. At ITA, however, it is not just another part of the business but a key priority, as they highly value the notion of giving back which stems throughout the entirety of the business. For Lindsay, corporate responsibility is a large and integral part of her overall contribution. As she explains the initiative ‘ITA Cares’:
“ITA Cares consists of 3 commitments: helping the planet, helping others, and promoting a healthy lifestyle. This provides the grounding to leverage everything that we’re working on. I am passionate about giving back and being able to do that with my company, it’s something I’m incredibly grateful for. It’s amazing to see how everyone really values and appreciates ITA Cares. It projects a different mood and positive tone to the environment of the entire company, which I think is super important for businesses to have. Especially for someone like us
with a global footprint, there’s so much we can do to help give back.”
The notion of giving back that stems across the entirety of the company, can also be seen on a smaller scale within each individual region that they operate in. As such, their local community efforts are dictated by the needs and wants of that community. Whether it be an ocean clean-up or a rugby tournament, each branch of ITA is prepared to get handson. Subsequently, ITA endeavours to “dig deep and be very hands-on, so that we know exactly the breakdown of their cause and where the money is going and that people are getting the most of our donation.” This indicates how they are not unconsciously providing money as a surface-level contribution, but rather making an effort to diligently help others in the best way they can.
Adding to their corporate social responsibility is ITA’S green initiative, which is greatly important to Lindsay, as she expands on the ‘Going Green’ campaign that has been making waves since
2012. One example lies in the implementation of the fully electronic application, seen within the Electronic Application Platform, as a highly efficient paperless platform. This was further accompanied by the Resolution Center which is a state-of-the-art communication tool to help its financial advisors secure a bigger network whilst still being wary of the company’s climate footprint. And, recently, with the development of the mobile marketing app, ITA Connect, there’s a change in the way of doing business which is sharing and selling online. The company’s ‘Going Green’ campaign is further endorsed by the microsite that was created to house all the important things they are doing in one single place. This expansion of the website is used to collectivise all green content, including their blog, donations and the many initiatives that help provide a more sustainable future.
ITA’s green initiative can also be seen in the groundwork they do across the breadth of their global network. For example, the International Coastal Clean Up is a fantastic global event that brings everybody together to be environmentally conscious. This works so well because a lot of the offices are located near oceans or water.
Consequently, beginning a couple of years ago, employees from different offices brought their family and friends to clean up the beaches. Not only was this great fun for everybody, but it also made a huge difference to each community.
Unfortunately, like many businesses across the world, the pandemic put a stop to many of the events, particularly when we consider that many parts of Asia are still restricted. Despite this, ITA overcame this issue by becoming more creative and subsequently not letting the pandemic disrupt the brilliant work they are doing. Recently, they hosted a coastal cleaning campaign through social media and email campaigns encouraging their audience to participate and help clean beaches and waterways nearby. Lindsay told us about the key impacts that this digitised form of campaign is having:
“We’re encouraging clients, financial advisors and employees to get involved to go clean the waterways, take a picture, post it and tag us or email us. We’ve received messages from people in Russia, people in Sri Lanka, people in Malaysia, Uruguay, and Brazil among others.
It’s so nice to see people out there with friends and family cleaning up bags of trash and making a difference. It adds more to the
whole connection value. We’re far away from each other and we haven’t been able to see each other for a while, but we can still connect on some level and it’s all in a positive tone and giving back for a greater cause.”
When looking toward ITA’s future, it is clear that it will continue to have positive impacts and numerous successes across the globe. This is presented by the expansions into neighbouring regions such as the Middle East, that open many opportunities for financial investors. Each expansion is greatly important to ITA as they add to the product family based on feedback from their clients and advisors, and thus look at what the people need rather than profit-centred expansion. ITA’s next objectives are simply to spread even more globally, as well as to develop its already blossoming digital presence. This includes a greater focus on the educational aspect of the business, providing a platform for advisors to let them know what’s going on in the industry, as well as simply learning the basics.
At Investors Trust, their keen eye for innovation and a collaborative working environment makes it easy to see how they have greatly evolved and achieved such renowned success over the past twenty years. Equally, the future also looks bright as they trailblaze environmental consciousness in the industry. Here at Endeavour, we look forward to speaking to them again and learning even more about their valuable contributions to the financial sector.
We are proud to cross another milestone as we celebrate 20 years of business. Over the past two decades, we have made strides to expand our presence globally and rise as leaders in the industry.
Shipping agencies are an integral part of the transport industry, particularly in their role of handling shipments and cargo, operating across ports and harbours worldwide. De Keyser Thorton (DKT) can also proudly say that it is the oldest and largest privately owned agency. Operating across six different shipping lines across the world, they are titans of the shipping industry.
DKT’s excellence is demonstrated by its 160 years of experience, therefore being able to develop unmatched practices that can be used to the customer’s advantage. The business also has flexibility in its services, as they can be tailored to meet customers’ requirements, whatever they may be. DKT’s influence is extended on a global scale, as its in-house shipping lines and strategic allegiances offer international coverage, as well as guidance on local customs and procedures across the world. Therefore, it can be said that DKT has an excellent network and vast services to offer.
DKT business comprises of four integral components: Shipping, Forwarding, NVOCC, and Marine Services. Within their shipping services, DKT represents a sizeable number of shipowners across different global destinations. These areas include the shipping corporation of India, Empros Lines, United Africa Feeder Lines (UAFL), Boluda Lines, and Arkas Line. DKT’s flexibility is further shown by their forwarding services, therefore moving large quantities of goods around the world on behalf of their customers.
Not only do they offer great services, but DKT also offers full-scale representation to ship owners and charters in the ports of Antwerp, Ghent, Zeebrugge, Ostend, Brussels, Flushing and Terneuzen. This means that they offer efficient and wide-reaching services across Europe. DKT can also boast that they are one of the leading transport businesses that specialise in the work of linear shipping. Put in layman’s terms, liner agency is the process of transporting goods and cargo from one destination to another, through direct routes that are scheduled in advance. Such strict and pressurised deadlines are supported by DKT’s state-of-the-art IT systems.
Such objectives and efficient services are represented within their values and aims. As such, the DKT Group will keep on investing in human resources, IT, customer service and innovations to maintain their position as the market leaders in the shipping agency industry, as well as delivering topperformance services across all their clientele.
This is demonstrated by the large number of shipowners that DKT represent. The Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) for example, offers an FCL service, as well as a Breakbulk service to the Indian subcontinent. The FCL service travels far and wide around India. Namely, it calls at Colombo (Sri Lanka),
Mundra and Nhava Sheva (India). Aside from these hub ports, they also provide many brilliant feeder connections to some smaller ports in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. Whatever your needs may be in this highly significant region, your services will always be best handled by SCI and DKT’s efficient partnership.
DKT services are further extended through its excellent partnership with Empros Lines. Primarily based in Athens, Greece, it operates as a first-class shipping service. Empros Lines, like many of the other subsects of DKT, operate several linear services. In particular, they specialise in the carriage of conventional shipments in all kinds of cargoes. Destinations of shipping include Greece, the Marmara Sea in Turkey, Egypt, Tunisia, Israel and Cyprus. Such a variety of locations demonstrates how far Empros Lines, as well as other DKT partnerships, are willing to go.
Over the years, we were able to build a strong relationship based on trust and commitment. We are looking forward to exciting new projects that we can accomplish together.”
we keep your goods flowing
When you look at the history of DKT, you can begin to understand how it became the largest contender in the transport industry. DKT was founded in 1853, in the wake of the industrial age in Brussels. In 1948 however, the company was further expanded to create a forwarding company: De Keyser Expeditions (DKE). This allowed the company to offer a greater range of transport-related services. More recently, throughout DKE’s journey in the past two decades, we can see how they have built their network and dominance across other companies, bolstering the overall profit and success of DKT. In 2000, the company developed further by becoming an integral component of the NAXCO Group. This was vital for the growth of the company, as it created one of the largest integrated shipping and logistics providers and allowed DTK to expand its influence in not only Belgian ports but also in France and The Netherlands. DKT expands its efforts further by creating bonds with Unamer and Trimar, neighbouring linear shipping agencies with equally excellent reputations. Despite its main practice as a shipping agency, DKT went further afield and up into the air as they acquired a majority shareholding in Das Logistics, a forwarding specialiser of air
freights. Such partnerships have come together to create the DKT-group of various international organisations. Therefore, DKT has created a widereaching and multi-organisational family of shipping agencies, that plain-sailed them to becoming a power in the shipping agency industry.
Through such a far-reaching influence in the ever-expanding industry of shipping agencies, DKT is greatly pushing the frontiers of the transport industry, focusing on innovation and dedication in its services. The powerful force of DKT, and all their partnerships, can be found within their highly skilled, experienced, and committed staff, which is complemented by their highly advanced computer system that combines to create the beating heart of the business. This also enables DKT to face all the obstacles that emerge from today’s and tomorrow’s marketplace. It also means that all their clientele receives top-quality and highly efficient services that find quick and simple solutions to the everevolving shipping agency industry.
Petroleum is arguably the most vital product to ensure the smooth running of thousands of industries across the world. When you stop and think about the vital nature of petrol, oil and gas not only for industrial use but for everyday measures, it truly is astounding. Therefore, it is important to stop and think about the key processes that take place to acquire this liquid gold! This is why Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) ensures the most quality product and services, as well as striving to create more self-sufficient products using Ghanaian resources. GNPC was first established back in 1983 and has been providing efficiency and sustainability ever since.
The GNPC was created by the PNDC Law 64. Put simply, this vital piece of legislation was created to reach the key objective of being able to provide a sufficient and sustainable supply of petroleum products. This is a vital part of GNPC’s mission, as they are fighting to reduce Ghana’s dependency on crude oil imports. This will only be achieved, however, through the key development of the country’s petroleum resources, therefore making their work vital in the development of Ghanaian resources. This vital work clearly pays off, as they are ranked one of the leading oil and gas companies in the world, whose business has a profound effect on the quality of life for the people of Ghana.
So what is the GNPC? Well, their main operational strategy is to increase the capacity and expand the activity of the oil and gas industry, which is achieved through their efforts in investing systematically in building operations, and thus managing a wider portfolio of producing assets. Additionally, the oil and gas superpower also successfully invests in high-impact initiatives for the replacement of growth reserves, as well as catalysing local content development. Therefore, such well-thought-out strategies mean that GNPC is well on its way to becoming a world-class operator.
The PNDC (Petroleum Exploration and Production) Law 84 was implemented to secure the regulatory framework for the exploration of Ghana’s hydrocarbon resources. This was one of the first steps taken on the road to a self-sufficient energy supply. This development was essential, particularly when we consider how GNPC as the national gas aggregator, aims to efficiently meet the demands of Ghana’s growing energy requirements.
GNPC also have a well-established set of values that promote the ethical structuring around the distribution and refining of petroleum. This is a really positive outcome as it points toward a brighter future for the industry of fuel and gas. For example, a key aim of theirs is to maximise Ghana’s potential for self-sustainability. With this in mind, it makes sense that they strive to ensure that the country secures the greatest possible benefits from the development of its petroleum resources. This is also endorsed by the overseeing of efficient transfer to Ghana of appropriate technology relating to
petroleum operations. Therefore, through such effective processes, we can begin to see how GNPC achieves their vision of being one of the leading oil and gas companies.
As previously mentioned, GNPC has major positive impacts on the local community by improving the quality of life for many Ghanaian citizens. This is no wonder, as they are highly committed to the training of many locals and the advancement of the community, which is one of the many things that makes GNPC stand out as a company. The same can also be said domestically within the company as they operate with a high sense of professionalism and respect for talent. By being so people-centred, they can also be ethical and highly appreciative of their highly proficient workforce. This is vital for ensuring GNPC can pursue its goals and harbour the brilliant engineering talent that is at its fingertips. Furthermore, with the highly skilled and efficient work that GNPC offer, they highly promote creativity and innovation, which secures their well-earned position at the top.
If we look at the structural organisation of the company, GNPC is split into five main functional
divisions and four staff departments. This structured workforce allows for the greater inclusion of activities that facilitate the ever-evolving nature of the company. It also ensures that through effective communication, the GNPC is always expanding their influence further ashore.
If we look at GNPC’s history, it is easy to see how it made huge waves in the petroleum industry, not only in the country but across the world. Before GNPC’s establishment in 1983, Ghana’s petroleum and gas industry was incredibly limited, as the country did not yet have the right infrastructure for the oil and gas industry.
Evidently, the well count onshore and offshore was fifty-four, a tiny amount when we consider the magnanimous developments that have taken place since. Additionally, 2D seismic coverage remained very sparse, thus having little potential for expansion. Thankfully, GNPC came to the rescue! One of their first key aims was to fund the acquisition of a considerable number of vintages of
2D seismic blocks onshore and offshore the river Tano, as well as offshore in the Saltpond basin, alongside many other key operations. Not only can GNPC boast that they spent many years in the early 2000’s recovering resources and recovering data to improve exploration, but they also secured significant gas and oil communications in early 2007. Along with the production of the Jubilee field, the floodgates opened for key investment and industry opportunities.
Such an impressive timeline meant that by 2011, GNPC had approximately 70,000 kilometres of 2D seismic data lines, whilst 3D seismic coverage is now an incredible 24,000 square kilometres, alongside 160 wells now drilled into Ghana’s sedimentary basins. This impressive list of achievements demonstrates the dedication GNPC has to ensure that Ghana maximises its capabilities for self-sustaining petroleum resources and thus contributes to the wealth of the nation.
GNPC key premise of making Ghana’s petroleum industry self-sustaining is really something to marvel at, as not only do they excel at the maximisation of resources, but they also ensure vital work in building capacity and ensuring key work for the future generations of the oil and gas sector. So, next time you are filling up your car with fuel or are huddled around the radiator this approaching winter, consider all the key work of efficiency and sustainability that has gone into this vital process.
Take a trip anywhere around the countryside and guarantee you will go past a field of oilseed, or perhaps glance at a mammoth piece of farm machinery ploughing through a field of sugar beet. Further afield over in Africa and Asia, you can rest assured that as a leading agribusiness company, Wilmar, have had a key involvement in such processes. Founded in 1991, and located mainly in Singapore, Wilmar is Asia’s leading agribusiness group with a turnover in 2021 of US $65.79 billion and ranked an impressive 192nd in Fortune Globe 500 Companies. Therefore, it is no wonder that Wilmar has become a titan of the agribusiness industry, spreading their influence across a large percentage of the globe, and heralding their business in an array of food and oil sectors.
Wilmar’s recipe for success can be found in its strategic integrated agribusiness model. For those non-farmers out there, this means that Wilmar sees every part of the process from the field to fork. Its main focus can be found in three sectors: food products, feed and industrial products, and plantations. Therefore, we easily can recognise how Wilmar’s influence is spread across many different industries and sectors. Subsequently, Willmar closely follows the processing and distribution of many consumer products, such as; edible oils, rice, wheat flour, noodles, sugar, chocolate, and the list goes on. Therefore, many of the products in your cupboard at home have probably involved Wilmar in some way. Wilmar is not only a leading business in consumable food but also feed and industrial products.
This sector of the business can also boast clear innovation and flexibility as its processing, merchandising and distribution also extend to animal feed, agricultural commodities, gas oil and biodiesel. Therefore, the sphere of Wilmar’s influences can be found in everyday food products,
as well as pioneering sectors in Agri-business like fuel and oil.
As such, we can clearly see how such a giant in the Agri-sector spills over into global waters, as they are the world’s largest manufacturer of oleochemicals, speciality fats and palm biodiesel, with over 500 manufacturing plants and a multinational workforce of approximately 100,000 people. When we take a glance at Wilmar’s map of influence, it really is something to behold. Wilmar’s business predominantly takes place in Africa and Asia; however, its influence further extends to European waters as the production of oleochemicals and rice can also be found in France, Denmark, the Netherlands and Spain. This also demonstrates how the global market for consumable and nonconsumable oils is wide-ranging. For example, in the case of oleochemicals, Wilmar has over 20 highly efficient production facilities, in 30 distribution locations globally to integrate a wide range of products. When we think about how this is a tiny drop in the ocean of the products Wilmar offer, it’s hard to fully describe their vast influence in words.
Another main focus of Wilmar’s business is the milling of both rice and flour. As one of China’s largest wheat and rice millers, they have a lot to offer to the great global consumption of rice. This is highly integral as rice is the source of onefifth of all the calories consumed by the world’s population. Therefore, non-surprisingly, across the world they have a huge market for the rice milling process. When looking again at the global mapping of Wilmar, the distribution of rice mills trumps many of their other sectors, therefore providing evidence for the integrity of Wilmar’s rice production.
On a sweeter note, Wilmar also offers key operations in the production and distribution of sugar. Once again, Wilmar is involved in every part of the process from the valuing of sugar cane to the sugar aisle in the supermarkets. Statistically, Wilmar is one of the world’s top 10 raw sugar producers, with operations across Australia and New Zealand, Indonesia, Morocco, India, Myanmar, Brazil and China. The combination of the international network and integrated supply chain means that Wilmar has
a unique and optimal position as one of the largest international traders in sugar.
Further noteworthy is Wilmar’s dabbling in the shipping industry. As part of the integrated agri-business model, Wilmar controls a complex system of liquid and dry bulk carriers that improve the effectiveness of their wider shipping business. The fleet provides a helping hand in meeting the demands of the shipping sector alongside other third-party partnerships.
Noteworthy also is Wilmar’s key commitment to sustainability and eco-conscious practices. As an agri-business involved in the oil sector, the clear commitment to climate change is an interesting and beneficial one. In the past, many oil companies have been put under scrutiny for their contributions to climate change. And yet, sustainability is a key part of Wilmar’s mission as they continue to expand their influence and develop their operations to help save the planet rather than damage it. For example, in the sugar sector specifically, Wilmar is a part of the NDPE (No Deforestation and No People
Exploitation) Sugar Initiative. This dictates the great extent that Wilmar will go to make sugarcane production eco-conscious and sustainable. The key to this endeavour is through devoted long-term partnerships with their suppliers and buyers, so they negotiate operations in a way that best suits the planet. On a broader plain, Wilmar provides a wide range of committed policies alongside its environmental commitments. These include an Equal Opportunity Policy, a Human Rights Policy as well as a UK Modern Slavery Act Transparency Statement. These extensive points of inclusion are vital in creating a respected and effective workforce, as well as ensuring that they conduct their systems in a way that is not harmful to the many communities that they operate in.
Wilmar, as a giant in the international agribusiness sector, can be held in high regard for its expansive operations, in oilseed, animal feed and industrial products, and Plantations. As such Wilmar holds an expansive empire in the oil industry and grain industries. So much so, that Wilmar is greatly involved in our everyday lives, from the food in our cupboards to the farming fields across the world.
A fresh coat of paint on your walls is an easy and simple way to spruce up your home. Particularly if you consider that 88% of people have more of a desire to be at home after painting their walls. Over at Berger Paints, their established history has received a new lick of paint as they combine their centuries-long experience with a philosophy of innovation and quality. From its humble beginnings in 1923 in India, the company has greatly advanced to become the second largest paint company in the Americas, with a consistent mindset of expansion and growth, that spans its 88-year-old history.
Berger Paints growth and expansion can be reflected in its annual turnover of $31, 432 USD. This impressive figure demonstrates how far the company has come throughout its history. If we go back in the timeline we can witness how the founder of the company, Lewis Berger, set the company’s ethos way back in 1760. Since then, Berger Paints has gone from strength to strength, as the persevering spirit that comes from a modest family-run company, has transformed them into being named one of the fastest growing paint companies in the US and Caribbean. In the corporate business world, such a family-based structure is rare, as such, they have a key focus on valuing people, including their workforce and their customers. This means Berger ensures that their customers receive the highest quality paint that makes your walls shine even on the darkest days.
Taking pride in decorating the walls is one of the many parts of being a homeowner. Due to Berger Paint’s international presence, millions of people across the world can enjoy Berger’s quality pots of paint. Alongside hundreds of stores
across America, Berger also possesses a bustling global presence, across the Caribbean and Africa. Therefore, many homes across the world can enjoy a new lick of paint and access an extensive wealth of knowledge, that enables a range of vital interior decorating solutions. Importantly for its customers, this means that painting your walls is a stress-free experience.
The primary focus on customer care, which is at the heart of Berger Paint’s business, is exemplified by the Berger express painting services. This innovative service makes your decorating chores ten times easier, as their express painting service is faster and more efficient than traditional painting. In order to provide an extra helping hand, Berger delivers genuine and high-quality products to your door when you need them, saving you from having to try and haul tonnes of paint home. Moreover, many struggle to make the time (and patience) to paint an entire room by themselves.
Thankfully, Berger also provides highly efficient trained painters to execute the perfect paint job. Therefore, Berger can pride itself on making sure that decorating your home is a leisurely and enjoyable part of interior design.
Not only does Berger paints provide excellent customer service, but they also have a strong green initiative. This is greatly important when we consider how paint and coating manufacturing operations can produce lots of toxic air pollutants, which ultimately contribute to the planet’s ozone layer. To combat this, Berger’s ‘Green Horizon’ means that they operate in a way that is not harmful to the planet and conserves natural products, thus helping to provide a greener future for later generations. Such commitments include the reduction of waste and conserving natural resources in all their manufacturing facilities, as well as launching energy-efficient products, and using renewable and sustainable raw materials in the formulations of their paint. For their efforts in being more environmentally conscious, Berger has received the Green Pro Certification by the Indian Green Building Council, which was awarded to them
due to their efforts in the manufacturing process, and the use of their raw materials.
This is most aptly showcased in the launch of their ‘Breath Easy’ range, their first low VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) Paint. This innovative step greatly reduces the effects of air pollutants on the planet. More specifically, the low VOC paint includes the highest standard of indoor quality air whilst still ensuring zero health hazards and maximum performance. Thus, this highly effective range not only gives your walls a vibrant coat of paint but also protects the planet, ensuring that each customer is doing their bit towards climate change.
As the Autumn and Winter months roll in, the chances of dampness in the home greatly increase. However, Berger also provides excellent services to combat such issues, in their scientific waterproofing solutions for both your home, office and workplace. This means that the space around you is durable for any wear and tear or spillages that you may have in your busy day. Their range of household services includes a household moisture meter, that identifies moisture on walls, ceilings and concrete floors. This is highly useful if your home or workplace is susceptible to dampness or you’re
the victim of a leaky shower or two. Along the same lines, Berger also provides wall waterproofing and wall treatment, that can cater to walls old or new. Moreover, when decorating the home, many people struggle to decide what colour is best for them. This makes sense when you think that the most popular colours for painting houses in 2021 were white, beige, blue and grey. Therefore, Berger has launched the ‘Seventh Sense of Imagination’ initiative, which encourages homeowners to be more creative and add a pop colour to their walls, therefore bringing the interior designer out of us all.
Berger Paints can not only demonstrate a wellestablished knowledge of the house paint industry and what it means to provide quality paint, but they also provide key innovations in water solutions to protect homes across the world from the issues of water damage. Outside the home, they are making key strides to paint a greener world for future generations, which can only be achieved by living in a more environmentally friendly world. Thus, Berger Paints can enjoy a rich history whilst also looking to a vibrant future, as they continue to evolve as one of the biggest paint providers in the US and across the Carribean.
In 2017 we spoke to Island Site Development (ISD) about its clientfocused perseverance as a civil engineering and road development company. We found them to be a genuine and committed workforce who guaranteed success in every project. Five years on, ISD still prevail as a reliable and diverse source of high-quality engineering and construction. This is further encouraged by the progression of the sheer size and capability of their operations, whilst still placing their client’s needs as the beating heart of the company.
As of 2022, ISD remains a beacon of the Bahamian business landscape. This is demonstrated by the patriotism they have for the Bahamas, shown by their standing as a pillar of the local community. Such a position is further endorsed by their continued support of the local Bahamian people. If you ask any one of their clients, they will tell you there is mutual respect present between ISD and the locals, as they work together to greatly develop many parts of the region. Furthermore, they also give back to the local community through a strong and proud tradition of construction that openly benefits beyond the local area, expanding their influence across to the Caribbean. This is further complemented by their dedication to a project, seeing it from its early stages, through the design and construction processes, to the end product. Therefore, it’s not hard to see how at ISD, their main focus can be found in the key difference they make to the community and their clients alike.
Additionally beneficial is the commitment to delivering only the highest quality operations. This
is a common promise amongst many engineering companies that are seldom delivered upon, due to outsourcing and the failure to see the project through. And yet, ISD stands out from the crowd they make it their top priority that every client, big or small, has their project completed to the highest standard. This is evidenced by the sheer diversity of services and operations in which they offer.
The prevailing diversity and an extended number of operations on offer are impossible to fit into one article. However, the civil and Infrastructure operations that ISD provide demonstrate a kaleidoscope of services and projects that evidence worldclass development. Such services include assistance, budget, and contracting services, that are spread across a diverse range of clientele. These services can also be provided for projects like mass earthworks and grading, hardscape and landscape, and environmental strengthening & protection, just to mention a few.
Therefore, as we can see, whatever their client may need, at whatever size, ISD are prepared to put quality time and sustenance in their operations to provide the greatest efficiency. This can be endorsed by the certification from many local and international bodies that can attest to ISD’s achievements within the engineering industry.
Over at ISD, they thrive when working on a challenge, whether it be reaching target goals, responding to tight deadlines, or overcoming adversities. Such goals all wrap to ensure customer satisfaction of the highest standard. This is evidenced by the thousands of clients that they deliver to on an annual basis and the variety of projects in which they offer. Some of the most recent projects include Baha Mar Resort’s Lake Bridge. This fun and exciting project not only provided lots of entertainment to the local community but also demonstrated the efficiency of ISD engineering performance. This is most aptly shown through features like electrical and control systems for the operation of underwater fountains, as well as 4,000cu, yd. of marine grade concrete
walls. Therefore, not only does this demonstrate the customer’s need for a fantasy water park for all to enjoy, but underneath the magical aesthetic is an inspiring and innovative engineering production.
Another case of a client’s vision coming to life is evidenced through the construction of the Landslide Civil Phase II, as part of the continuous upgrades to the Lynden Pindling International Airport. This complex operation included different earthwork, a gravity sewer, drainage, slot drain and a large retention basis. Despite this complex project, ISD flew high to complete it to an innovative standard. This same passion is reflected in their other latest projects, which include Wastewater treatment plants, and property development along Cococay. Once again we can witness how valuable such projects are, as ISD are responsible for key advancements in the infrastructure of the region and progression in travel and tourism.
You rarely find an engineering company that doesn’t just rely upon a faceless bank. However, ISD’s continued success is reflective of the dedication to its shareholders, which encouraged ISD to further evolve and transform into the magnificent place they are today. Therefore, it can be easily
said that ISD put people at the heart of its business. This is also reflected within the history of ISD, as the company developed from its inception in marine construction, to become its own independent contractor and has no claims to outsourcing. This was only, however, achieved by putting the wants of the shareholders and the needs of the local community at the centre of what they do.
ISD very much sees the bigger picture in every build and construction. No matter what the specification or desire, ISD combine the valued expertise and decades of experience to bring a dream to life. This is achieved through their simple mantra: to provide only quality services in a way that is safe and beneficial to those around them. Although this seems like a simple goal, their clear mission may be the secret to their success as they value the ethics of working across many cultures and disciplines, whilst transforming the Bahamian landscape in a way that is beautiful and efficient for all. And yet, ISD strives to constantly improve their standards so that we can see how they progress long into the future. As such, we look forward to hearing from them soon!
Written by Lucy Pilgrim
The Santa Mara Sabrewing has miraculously been rediscovered after being classified as extinct for the last thirteen years. Also known as the Emerald Green Hummingbird, this small but magnificent beauty was found by researchers in Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta region in Columbia, whilst on the search for parrots.
Yurgen Vega, the local researcher who made this unexpected discovery told The Guardian that he felt “overcome with emotion” when he found the Santa Marta Sabrewing perched in the forest. This unexpected sighting is made even more special when we consider that Venga’s documentation is only the third documentation of the bird ever! It has previously been photographed once in 1946 and another in 2010, making it a very unique find.
Vega further detailed how the vital sighting was a complete surprise: “When I first saw the hummingbird, I immediately thought of the Santa Marta Sabrewing. I couldn’t believe it was waiting there for me to take out my camera and start shooting.”
As one of the 24 bird species known to the Sierra Nevada region, the male characteristics of the Santa Marta Sabrewing are emerald plumage with a blue throat and a black bill. Although they are seen as a spectacular beauty, compared to other birds within this region they are relatively small. Spanning approximately 13 cm long, they tend to stay nearer the edges of humid forests. More specifically, they prefer banana plantations that allows them to feed on the flowering banana, although little is known of their feeding behavior. Therefore, making this recent discovery even more important in learning about their habitat and feeding behaviors.
This same thought is also expressed by Esteban Botero-Delgadillo, director of the conservation group Selva: “This finding confirms that we still know very little about many of the most vulnerable and rare species out there, and it is imperative to invest more in understanding them better.” This is even more pertinent when we consider the continued deforestation in the Santa Marta area.
Due to extensive habitat loss, the Santa Marta Sabrewing was listed as critically endangered in
2020. This was deduced after it was found to have a very small range, thought to have numbered less than 50 mature individuals. This unfortunate statistic is due to the large amounts of deforestation in the area. Approximately 85% of the original vegetation in its range has been destroyed after the years of logging, as well the conversion of the habitat into agriculture, grazing and human habitation. As an unfortunate consequence of the deforestation, all that is left of the area is degraded and fragmented. Scientists also predict that climate change has had a huge effect on the Santa Nevada woodland, greatly extending the region’s dry season and increasing the risk of wildfires. Usually, the dry season lasts from December to April, however this could be seen to increase to several months in the coming years.
Nevertheless, not all hope is lost, as the rediscovery of the Santa Mara Sabrewing will encourage collaboration between officials and local conservationists to push forward operations in better protecting the remains of the forest. This will not only be advantageous for the Sebrewing,
but also a large collection of other species that inhabit there. Namely, other endangered creatures include the Santa Marta Parakeet, as well as critically endangered frog species such as Atelopus laetissmus and the Atelopus nahumae. The protection of such wildlife, alongside the Sabrewing is, is supported by organisations including the World Land Trust, Robert Wilson Trust, and the MarshallReynolds Foundation.
As Botero-Delgadillo aptly puts it: “It is the knowledge that drives action and change –it is not possible to conserve what we don’t understand.”
As such, the rediscovery of this beautiful creature cannot be underestimated, as it provides an opportunity for the flourishing of the habitat and subsequent wildlife of Santa Marta. It also provides further hope for other species further afield who may be in danger of being extinct, as well as vitally demonstrating that the rehabilitation and flourishing of our beautiful planet is possible.
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The Hong Kong Shipowners Association are old friends of Endeavor; therefore, it is a joy to see how their company is constantly developing as one of the world’s largest shipowner associations. When speaking to HKSOA, we can witness how their strategic management and specialised partnerships work to support Hong Kong’s shipping network, as a pillar of the country’s shipping industry since 1957.
The Hong Kong Shipowners Association comprises of 11 local shipowners, that effectively coordinate to provide a forum and a structure for many shipowners across Hong Kong. The focus on dialogue and mutual support first started in 1957, when the forum was created. Since then, however, this small group of partnerships has greatly expanded to become a key shipping association across the world.
The focus on support and accountability is shown through the fact that HKSOA members are its highest priority, and are therefore represented in a way that allows them to not only manage, but also operate and/or manage a fleet with a combined capacity of 244 deadweight tonnes. Managing Director of HKSOA, Sandy Chan, expands upon this, revealing:
“There are two categories of membership: ‘Ordinary’ membership for domiciled shipowners, managers and operators; and ‘Associate’ membership for other professions and services upon whom the industry would rely in the performance of their business.”
The variety of membership available highlights the extent to which HKSOA delegates responsibility and control to its partners. This ensures that the effective and collaborative approach continues to bring together two separate industries. The amalgamation of both shipowner and associated industries encourages key efficiency, that is achieved by the collaboration of collective expertise. Therefore, being encompassed in the umbrella of the Association makes it a powerhouse of the shipping industry. The reasoning for such success can be found in HKSOA key premise of communication and partnership that is vital to its daily running, as Chan further highlights:
“The Association arranges forums in which members are able to meet up and discuss issues of concern, [which] informs the membership of important changes in the shipping environment through educational seminars and circulars, and represents the interests of members in national and international forum.”
Such a collaborative form of business greatly expands HKSOA’s international standing, whilst still benefitting its clients and members. This is further encouraged by its enriched promise to promote and protect its extensive membership of domicile shipowners and ship managers. This can also be reflected in their commitment to the large number of local and international professions whom are dependent upon the company’s success. The contributions of its members and customers, as the clear asset of the company, is what facilitates Hong Kong as the as a maritime center of the world, garnering great respect for its contributions to the shipping industry. The maritime superpower can then advance value-added services for the general public, creating an even greater collaboration between its members and the community.
Due to the fact that HKSOA now enjoys such a vast influence in the shipping sector, it can operate on a variety of levels, including internal, local, national, and global. In accordance with its overall values, each level facilitates a broad dialogue and communication that makes key contributions to
the ultimate running of the Association, whilst promoting respect of each key member.
On the internal level, the Association hosts a variety of events for its members that acts as a conference to inform many of new developments, which are then relayed out to the local community, as well as relevant government departments and stakeholders. Elevating business conversations to a national level needs close working relationships with mainland authorities, as well as other associations and business partners. Finally, the negotiation of work on an international level consolidates all the work conducted on lower levels.
Consequently, on an international level HKSOA is widely recognised as the “Voice of Asia”. As such, they “support the principles of free trade, fair competition and a level playing field, and we participate actively in the global and regional maritime arenas. Presently, both the Marine Committee of the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) and the Ship Insurance and Liabilities Committee of the Asian Shipowners’ Association (ASA) are chaired by HKSOA representatives.”
Similar to hundreds of businesses across the world, the shipping industry goes through phases of
instability. HKSOA is no stranger to such adversities, particularly pertinent in the many difficulties faced in the last couple of years. A combination of trade disputes and stunted global economic growth meant that many shipowners felt times of difficulty. The 2020 shipping Sulphur cap only added salt to the wound.
Chan clearly recognised these industry struggles and persevered to resolve the issues that the company faced: “it is even more important for the Association, as a trade organisation representing the local shipping community, to continue to do things that are positive and encouraging.”
Such a positive mindset correlates with HKSOA endeavour to overcome the future uncertainties that may arise in the shipping industry, whilst simultaneously continuing the collective success of its members. This is most greatly addressed in its on-going efforts to enhance global collaboration. Evidently shown by the International Chamber of Shipping’s acceptance of the HKSOA’s offer to host a representative office, (the International Chamber
In today’s increasingly uncertain global shipping environment, Marsh helps ship owners and operators to anticipate, quantify, and more fully understand the range of risks they face today and prepare for the future.
of Shipping (China) Liason Office), all the way over in London. This achievement of global influence consequently cements Hong Kong as a leading maritime entity in the region.
Another aim of the HKSOA is to further encourage and cement the future of the shipping industry, by recognising the next generation of shipping professionals. So far, not enough is being done in the industry to encourage young people to enter the industry and set up a successful shipping career. Chan supports such ideas of future growth:
“Finding young talent is especially crucial for the shipping industry as the sector is experiencing a period of unprecedented change on all fronts – operational, technical, commercial, legal and financial. We must have the right people to cope with these changes. In the years ahead, the Association will work closely with both the government and the member companies in maritime education and training.”
More long-term plans can be found in the Association’s involvement in the Greater Bay Area (GBA) development plan, such an exciting is venture is significant in transforming Hong Kong’s shipping industry into a modern, innovative and
efficient enterprise. Further innovative initiatives are evidenced in HKSOA’s hard work in seeking BIMCO’s (The Baltic International Maritime Council) agreement to add Hong Kong as a named arbitration venue in the Dispute Resolution Clause in BIMCO’s standard contract. Such a success is reflected by Chan:
“We are very pleased with this announcement. The arrangement will further boost the use of Hong Kong’s maritime arbitration services worldwide, and consolidate Hong Kong’s position as a leading, international maritime centre.”
HKSOA hard work and dedication in maintaining their well-earnt leading position can be witnessed through the venture into global relationships, as well as maintaining a key local connection and nurturing future generations. Perhaps most important, however, is the protection of the collective collaboration that is at core of the success of the Association and what HKSOA is built on.
Put simply, integrated logistics companies help plan, implement, and manage the movement of goods and services according to supply and demand. RAK Logistics, however, can offer far more to their diverse range of customers. Amongst many other areas, their expertise is most greatly shown by RAK’s efficient global network, utilising the knowledge and expertise of six different organisations across 50 countries around the world. The vast network of global hubs means that RAK possess a variety of operations that certifies clear and diverse management of its clients supply demands, from domestic to international transportation needs.
The extent of RAK’s diverse operations can be judged by the sheer size of its operations, comprised of over 5000 trained logisticians and local entrepreneurs. Primarily based in Singapore, they possess a combination of both local and global influences. Therefore, RAK can promote ideas of collaboration, evidenced by their ability to provide innovative ideas to the everexpanding logistics industry.
The ideas of innovation and collaboration stem throughout RAK’s ten-year history, which demonstrates just how far they have come to become titans of the logistics industry. Such a dominant influence is shown through their global collaborators, including Rapid Logistics in Europe, RAK Logistics in the UAE, and universal shipping in the US. Therefore, as this impressive list demonstrates, RAK key market focus can be found primarily in The Netherlands, United Arab Emirates and ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations). Therefore, such a world-wide influence is achieved by integrating and projecting these already successful localized operations, onto a greater plain by offering customised value-added supply chain solutions to their collaborators.
RAK logistic global influence expands further afield to China, where they have managed to facilitate strategic partnerships that further broaden the horizon of RAK’s business enterprise. However, at the heart of such expansions is customer communication and premium service, which is always placed at the heart of everything they do and vital to their global network. Exemplar expertise in the logistics company is needed now more than ever, due to the increasingly challenging and complex international trade requirements that need advanced knowledge on the industry. Thankfully, this the knowledge and legacy and RAK uphold means that they are the best place to go to overcome such challenges!
RAK’s world-wide reach is only achieved by the success of the individual partnerships, each with 15+ years of experience of market leadership, and the ability to deliver on the demands of RAK’s clientele, providing logistics solutions to globally recognised customers. The efficiency of the global network and chain of businesses makes RAK fully equipped to meet customers’ needs however complex they
may be, quickly and effectively. When looking at the ground operations of RAK, the local market teams can manage customers freight from start to finish, meaning that every stone gets turned in the operational process. In particular, the local market teams can provide excellent assistance in legacy purchasing power, regulatory compliance, visibility and personal attention. Many other logistics companies out there often give the same mundane advice. And yet at RAK, each customer receives highly personalized and expert guidance that is specific to their request, and garnered from the wide-ranging global and collaborative knowledge of the industry.
So what can RAK fundamentally offer its customers? First and foremost, RAK emphasise how they offer care and commitment to their customers in services of logistics and transportation. In terms of the former, RAK not only have key equipment needed for logistics such as fork lifts and other standard apparatus, but when we pair this with an advanced knowledge and flexibility that RAK offer, it becomes the magic combination.
This is showcased through their storage and warehouse services that can be utilised by their third-party company customers to make the transferring and storage of goods a breeze. Furthermore, the use of Air freight transportation ensures that your goods are transported across international lines efficiently and on time.
Therefore, as a leading provider of air freight services, they can offer companies unparalleled experience in the transportation of cargo and air operations.
Despite their already existing vast portfolio, RAK are aiming even higher to become the leading ASEAN headquartered integrated logistics company. Despite this ambitious aim, RAK believe it is achievable due to a clear set of values that can carry the company even further. First and foremost, their main priority lies in their highly valued customers. With RAK, you are not simply a client in their spreadsheet, but a customer with a meaningful contribution to the business. As such RAK persevere to have a clear understanding of what each customer needs, and what’s important to them. As an integral counterpart to the customers, the employees of RAK are the key
component to the guaranteed success of the business.
As such, they have a key premise of “Happy employees = Happy customers”. Therefore, we can see how there is a symbiotic relationship between the customers and employees that not only ensures that the needs of the customers are met, but the well-being of the employees is maintained. It is therefore no wonder that as an employee of RAK you are connected for life, therefore as a customer you can enjoy a long-lasting legacy with RAK.
RAK’s expertise and initiative also mean that they value always being ‘in the right place’. Although this sounds obvious, it means that that they prioritise being in the right locations to serve the local demand, rather than spreading themselves too thinly by trying to be everywhere. This demonstrates how they ensure quality over quantity, particularly if we consider how RAK Logistics was formed to ‘fill a gap’ in South East Asian market, as well as identifying key global trading lanes. This particular operation is what makes RAK fantastically unique, as there is
currently no other SEAN headquartered integrated logistics company located in all 10 countries with branch offices globally.
Lastly, RAK are very proud of their flawless execution of business, that enables them to meet the challenging demands of the logistics industry. Subsequently, their highly efficient hub of highlytrained logisticians ensures the key sustainable, consistent and quality execution. The internal metric operations also determine that RAK remains innovative and constantly in a state of improvement, by reaching to meet stable incentive plans.
In comparison to other integrated logistics company’s, RAK clearly come up on top. Not only do they offer a driven and global mindset, they can also boast world-class collaboration across extensive list of companies and partnerships. Therefore, RAK is far more than just a transport and logistic service, it perfectly negotiates the balancing act between meeting the global demands of logistics industry and ensuring the highest quality service for its customers.
In a world where sustainability has become a key issue in today’s society, palm oil as an industry has been under great scrutiny for its contribution to climate change. Consequently, at New Britain Palm Oil, they make the sustainability of the business a key concern, doing every bit they can to not harm the planet. Therefore, as the world’s leading producer of sustainable palm oil, they are setting a clear example for other palm oil industries across the world.
Based primarily in Australasia, New Britain Palm Oil Ltd. (NBPOL) is a large scale integrated industrial producer of sustainable palm oil. Palm oil, in its simplest form, is an edible oil produced from the mesocarp of the fruit of oil parms, used in an extensive variety of products. The sheer magnitude of products is reflected within NBPOL’s own variety of operations, as they can boast an impressive 83, 000 hectares of planted oil palm plantations, and a further 10,000 hectares under preparation for oil palm. This is predominantly grown in the regions of Papa New Guinea and the Soloman Islands, but sold on a greater global scale. This is reflected within its far-reaching state of the art oil refineries, including locations in Liverpool, UK, and one more locally in Papa New Guinea.
The history of NBPOL is an interesting one when we think about the perseverance of New Britain’s land potential. If we turn the clock back to the 1930s, we can witness the very first beginnings of NBPOL in the key figure of Frank Henderson who was Agricultural Officer at the time. Significantly, Frank recognised the potential of a region locally known as ‘Mosa Block’ that could be used for new and innovative agricultural development. However, it was not till after World War II that Frank managed to really get the ball rolling. As the Director of Agriculture of Port Moseby in the 1960s, Frank got to the work by starting to identify land in both the highlands and the New Britain coast for key agricultural development, that eventually became NBPOL first base.
Subsequently, NBPOL first provincial headquarters were relocated from Talasea to Kimbe. Although this is only a small relocation south down the Island, it was a key moment for the business’s development, due its ideal location for the construction of an international wharf that could greatly expand their global reach. With this in mind, it is easy to witness how NBPOL grew from very humble beginnings to become a leading palm oil company. Such expansion is shown in NBPOL’s first venture outside New West Britain in 2006, when they acquired further influence in the Solomon Islands. Further achievements can be witnessed two years later when the company, which at this point was 7000 smallholders strong, achieved the RoundTable Sustainable Palm Oil certification.
This was a key moment in the company’s development, that gave way to international in the refinery in Liverpool, marking the first company operation in Europe. Therefore, stemming from a
simple inquiry all the way back in the 1930’s, NBPOL have come a long way to become leading experts in the palm oil industry.
As we know, sustainability is a key notion within the palm oil industry. At NBPOL however, it is of even greater concern, standing as an integral part of their everyday operations. It is therefore no wonder that they aim to promote the idea that palm oil can in fact be produced and consumed responsibly and sustainably. Therefore, under the effective consideration of “People, Planet and Prosperity”, they define sustainable development as responsible resource stewardship, effective pollution prevention and the effort to produce efficiently. It is therefore a joy to see how they have a key code of conduct and set of business ethics that they stick by. Firstly, they have a company vision towards Yield 30:30. Although this sounds technical, it effectively means that they strive to increase fruit yields to 30 tonnes per hectare, whilst achieving 30% combined crude palm oil and palm kernel oil extraction rates per tonne of fruit. The increase in fruit yields ensures the optimal age of
palms and continuous efforts in the improvement of seeds. Subsequently, this means that they can get the most out of the yield of each plant, increasing profits whilst simultaneously decreasing the harmful effects of extraction.
Further efforts in sustainability can be seen in the efforts to conserve nature through a plantation expansion strategy that does not involve extensive amounts of deforestation, therefore building on RSPO Commitments, which are further endorsed by efforts in deforestation and the protection of areas of High Carbon Stock.
Finally, as previously mentioned, NBPOL put the local people as one of their top priorities. It is for this important reason that extensive negotiation and engagement with local landowners is undertaken before any operation goes ahead. This means that they manage to protect the cultural heritage and that surrounds them, whilst still balancing the targets they need to reach the
level of agricultural development. Thus, unlike many others in the palm oil industry, NBPOL effectively manage the careful balance between sustainability and effective operations, in a way that secures their global success.
Such success is clearly shown in their more recent business ventures into sugar and beef production, that succinctly complements their established dedication in the palm oil industry. In both of these sectors, they have established themselves as leading suppliers for Papa New Guinea since 2006, due to their secured integration of Ramu-Agri industries. Since then, they have come on leaps and bounds. In the sugar business alone, Ramu Sugar has become a high-profile name in Papa New Guinea. Within their domestic supply of sugar, 3 million liters of bioethanol are produced, of which is exported to Australia or Singapore as an offset of their business, making the most of the materials. To counter the sweeter side, NBPOL are also the largest producer of beef in Papa New Guinea. As such, their magnanimous 20,000 head of cattle annually produce over 1400 tonnes of beef per year. This impressive statistic is only further complemented by the fact that the cows are
completely free-range, ensuring quality as well as quantity. Therefore, the broadening horizons of the palm oil at NBPOL are really something to behold, developing their success on a daily basis.
Another important factor to note is NBPOL are a vital subsidiary of the Sime Darby Plantation. This is greatly significant if we begin to envision NBPOL greater expansions, as they are part of a business that is present in over 100 hundred and holding over 80,000 employees globally. Although the facts speak for themselves, it is important to note that Sime Darby Plantation is the World’s Largest Producer of Certified Sustainable Palm Oil, after a successful 200-year history. With a completely integrated upstream and downstream operation system, they can always ensure maximum efficiency, securing the greatest value for their clients. NBPOL
From its humble beginnings, we can see how NBPOL have grown to be titans of the palm oil global industry, amassing influence across the world. Not only this, they also act as an example of how to produce palm oil the right way, making sustainability and the protection of local landowners a key priority. Subsequently making new and promising waves in turbulent time for the palm oil industry.
As we anticipate the colder months of Winter it is important now more than ever that our gas supply is top-notch. Over at Paraco gas, the mixture of extensive experience and family values create the perfect storm to become a renowned and reliable gas supplier. Paraco’s expertise stem from a long and bountiful chronology in gas supply. In fact, Paraco prides itself on an exciting history from modest beginnings to becoming one of the US biggest propane suppliers. All the way back in 1968 we can bear witness to the company’s infancy as a welding and gas supplier based in a tiny garage in in New York city. Therefore, when discussing the renowned success that Paraco have achieved since then, it is vital that we mention the key visionary of the business, Pat Armentano, who planted and grew the seeds of the business.
Almost 60 years ago Pat created Patsems, Inc. that acted as a small-scale welding supply distributor based in the region of Mount Vernon in New York. From such humble beginnings it is staggering to see how the company has been able to amass over $2 million in sales per year.
Going forward the company reached a turning point in 1979, when Patsems acquired Paraco Fuel Corporation, a neighboring fuel oil and propane distributor, which signified their connections to propane that still greatly lives on. This was a greatly transformative period at it marked the beginning of Paraco that we see today. The influential venture added half a million gallons of retail propane and 700,000 gallons of fuel oil. This greatly expanded the business to include the wealth of propane alongside its already highly successful distribution of industrial gas. Further adding to the repertoire in 1985, what was now known as Paraco, purchased Suburban Propane’s Long Island operation in Smithtown and Shirley. This was the cementing of Paraco’s propane empire, securing 2.5 million gallons of retail propane.
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Despite the great masses of success that Paraco has achieved since then, the family origins have been maintained through the generational aspects of the business. The role of CEO of Paraco now falls with Joeseph Armentano, Pat’s son. Evidently, Joe has certainly further propelled his father’s legacy as the business has now accumulated over 120,000 residential and commercial customers from 27 distribution locations, projecting themselves to be the 13th largest propane marketer in the U.S. The family legacy further continues on to a third generation, as Joseph’s daughter Christina Armentano also joined the helm in 2016, significantly contributing strategic growth initiatives. Therefore, through a generational wealth of experience, you can be sure that the best services are provided by Paraco, as the they place the customers and their needs as a top priority.
Their extensive history in propane means that Paraco are the most knowledgeable on the ins and outs of propane in the industry. Additionally useful for the customer specifically is the fact that despite knowing the extensive history, their dedicated team, still aim to expand such expertise by partaking in ongoing training sessions to get up to date ideas on the world of propane. Therefore, by providing the propane for the people of U.S they build a key network of trust with each customer by evidencing their dedication and transparency with each individual client.
As you may imagine with a propane and energy supplier, safety is a key priority. This is why Paraco Gas ensures that every customer’s home is secure which is achieved by a key set of strategies. Firstly, each Paraco propane expert is a member of the Propane Gas Association. This important step ensures that the safety and professionalism of the company is maintained. Further safety precautions are established by the Safety Director who ensures that all safety measures are being sufficiently met. This is one of the many measures that make Paraco unique in their safety measures, as there is a clear notion of accountability and responsibility in their business that is seldom seen anywhere else.
Like many of the other companies we see, it great to witness corporate social responsibility at the heart of the business. At Paraco, this can be fantastically seen through an accountability that can be witnessed not only within their internal
operations, but also further afield across America. Such a promise is made clear by Paraco’s emphasis on giving back, not only to their talented employees, but also local organisations in the community and national charities across the country. Firstly, recognising the talent of their work force is a main priority, in which they give back to their employees through schemes such as Saluting Our Vets and Greyston Foundation’s Next Step Program, partnering with local businesses to provide great incentives for their employees. Along the line of local communities, Paraco employees also participate in volunteer events, providing friendly faces to their customers and the local community. Their investment in the community expands on a national front, greatly contributing to companies such as Make-A-Wish, Project Yellow Light, and Making Strides Against Breast Cancer, radiating a friendly and can-do attitude both internally and to the external community.
Paraco’s main focus on propane is particular demonstrates its wide range of uses both domestically in the home, as well across many different industries. In the home, the wide variety of its uses include heating your home up for the approaching winter, as well as cooking, grilling, and even swimming! On a more business front, propane can be used in many logistics operations such as bulk delivery to fork lift fuel. Therefore, it is no wonder that propane is the key reason for Paraco’s ever-growing success.
As a national and global entity, Paraco have achieved their standing as leading experts in the gas and energy industry by providing an effective and friendly service, of which stems from the genetics for perseverance and hard graft that runs in the family. Therefore, Paraco is continually committed to providing a high-value and friendly service to its customers.
Trailer Manufacturers have a 4-decade history of contributing key economic services in the Transport and Logistics Industry. Their expertise is admirable when you consider how they grew from a small cargo haulage operation, to become one of the leading logistics service providers and fleet operators in Tanzania. This means that they have a strong influence in central and eastern Africa, as well as South Africa.
From the outset, it is easy to see how SSF has become a key player in the transport industry, most evidently shown by the vast size of their fleet operations that can be primarily seen in Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Such achievements are reached through a rigid and efficient operating structure in a variety of areas including; the safety of the transportation business, continuous development of its operating staff, and the expert training that it provides each of its employees. Furthermore, their committed investment in high-quality equipment means that they can still comply with international operating standards.
At the heart of SSF is the bond of trust and dedication that can be found between its employees and customers. This provides them with the ability to provide customised transport solutions to
a substantial list of multi-national companies including Total, Puma Energy and Trafigura, just to mention a few. Therefore, SSF’s fleet of reliable trucks makes light work of the African hills to deliver to many global entities and secure the success of the company.
In the past 12 months, many companies across the world have felt the effects of the changes in the distribution of fuel. This is something that is greatly felt at SSF as it can be said that fuel, and the recent surge in its demand, has been SSF’s biggest motivator for growth. More specifically, in regions such as Zambia and DRC, the vast increases in the mining industry have caused greater calls for transportation and logistics. Thankfully, due to Tanzania’s port facilities, it is in the perfect location as an export gateway for various African countries. Therefore, as the mining sector develops in Tanzania’s neighboring landlocked regions, there is a greater need for services that can transport the produce of other regions, therefore, acting as a gateway to the international market, and granting
the access to greater expansions domestically throughout South Africa.
As previously mentioned, SSF greatly values its talented workforce. It is for this reason that SSF has made considerable efforts to maintain the wellbeing of its employees. Such procedures include the scheduled allocation of 30-minute breaks for all its drivers who are on the road for extended periods of time, in order to combat fatigue and ultimately increase productivity. This small but significant measure sets an example for many other companies. This can also be said for the non-hierarchical workforce structure, so that both managers and drivers are equally valued, which in turn motivates each employee at SSF to do their bit.
Equally important to the well-being, is the safety of the workforce. Therefore, to achieve a safe and efficient service, members of the Management team regularly do spot checks to make sure that operations are being carried
Amongst many other companies, SSF is a subsidiary of the wider operations of Superdoll Trailer Manufactures. Established in 1992, Superdoll’s continued success can be witnessed in the company’s ideology to readily meet the demands of their customer’s needs. Accordingly, Superdoll ensures a sufficient stream of reliable transport operations, subsequently priding itself on having a meticulous selection process for the products and services that they offer. Therefore, by selecting only the highest quality products, Superdoll is a reliable source of solutions for your automotive needs, which is maintained by the strong relationship between all its subsidary companies that build to create a thriving company.
SSF, in their vital everyday operations, are integral to the African Transports and Logistics industry. As we have seen, this is for many reasons, such as their positioning as a port open to international borders, and the sheer size of their fleet operations. When this is combined with their extensive contacts and partnerships with many sectors across Africa, it creates the perfect recipe for a thriving transport and logistics business.
The staple of any construction company is the ability to operate and manage heavy-duty machinery, whatever the requirement, and whatever the conditions. In fact, the operating of heavy machinery is an integral part of thousands of industries across the world and is often the unsung hero of many companies. SMAG, however, understand the importance of heavy machinery and its vital use in the process of crushing and screening, encompassing a thirty-year history in the Southern regions of France.
Put simply, the process of crushing and screening involves the turning large and unmanageable blocks of material into more efficient pieces, which are then taken through a categorisation process according to size. SMAG has been known for their expertise in the field of mobile crushing and screening for over three decades. Thus, the experience in this field has helped progress the company to new heights in France’s construction industry. And yet such an established history in construction does not impede the ability to adapt and make room for innovations in sustainability and company safety. These particular aspects are an important concern for the heavy industry company as they navigate the changes in the industry in a way that is effective but also mindful of the environment, local community, and workforce. It is therefore for this reason that SMAG is currently in the process of becoming Mase-certified.
Such an accolade recognises the efforts in navigating the industry in a way that benefits their workforce whilst still being mindful of their carbon footprint. When looking at the latter, SMAG utilises specialist resources and techniques to deliver on their duty to develop a sustainable environment. This can be seen in many branches of the company, including the consistent renewal of their fleet. The consistent regeneration is conducted by investing in high-performance hybrid vehicles that are increasingly better for the environment. The company also uses excavators and loaders that are rigged with particularly chosen engines and exhausts that respect the emissions regulations for Europe and beyond. Such steps are further topped off by the new generation of hybrid crushers that are used to achieve the aim of reduced fuel consumption, ultimately having a better environmental impact.
SMAG’s priorities for the environment can also be extended to its expertly trained workforce. As such, SMAG ensures that the entirety of its workforce is highly qualified to operate machinery. Therefore, not only do the employees have a deeper understanding of operations, they are coached in new and innovative ways to further advance the everyday operations of the company. Therefore, reaching maximum efficiency is as an everyday requirement rather than an occasional goal.
The safety of SMAG’s employees is also of great importance, as the training and prevention schemes ensure that all members of the team know what protocols are in place to provide a safe and efficient working environment. To add to this, the main bulk of their employees have received First Aid training and wish to extend their knowledge across the company and whenever someone is in need.
As may be expected, the customers’ needs of the transport of heavy loads are viewed as a top priority, even in the requirement of the super heavy loads. With a variety of trucks at their disposal, their customers are guaranteed exceptional transport of their goods. Typically, in the construction or public works industry, the transportation of exceedingly ‘large blocks’ are taken by standard trucks. This ultimately means that for other companies, lots of constraints must be made to the operation for it to go ahead. SMAG, on the other hand, are unique in the fact they can easily combat such challenges without restricting any part of the process, by utilising specialised trucks along with administrative and logistical techniques that dissolve any need for restraints or constriction, ensuring only the best value for their customers.
Crushing and screening, as SMAG’s other key operation, means that they can easily manage the unmanageable. As such, their mobile crushing teams travel across the South of France and Corsica to deliver on a variety of orders, whether on-site or in more urban areas. For example, a recent case can be found when they conducted the crushing and screening of bituminous products for their recovery and reuse elsewhere.
This evidences how integral their operations are in the recycling of products and materials such as asphalt plants. By transforming them from waste materials to material status, they can be efficiently integrated into the development of reusable products, such as road pavements or quarries, and other recycled aggregates. Furthermore, many of their crushers are equipped with magnetic carpets that greatly reduce the steel that results from the demolition process. This means that the trucks can efficiently collect the materials, subsequently minimising waste. In this sense, we can see SMAG’s further commitments to nature, as they highly value so-called ‘unsuitable’ materials to transform them into the manufacture of concrete and many other reusable materials.
SMAG’s services also extend to the rental services of construction machinery for any needs in the Southern French region. This stems from SMAG’s extensive collection of heavy goods vehicles, as it possesses one of the largest equipment parks in the region. Their generous services extend to the offer of a complete crushing workshop, mechanical shovels, loader and spider crane. Therefore, if your company has a heavy-duty project that needs tackling then SMAG are more than equipped to get the job done.
Whatever their customers’ needs may be, SMAG is more than prepared to tackle any project, whether it be a bustling city centre or wastage out in the sticks. Their efficient organization and strategy also mean that the process of crushing and screening is conducted in a professional and organised manner, which ensures that the optimum number of materials are used for renewable resources. Therefore, the conscious effort to go green is a maintained priority in the business as they consciously find innovative ways to transform the industry within the Southern France region.
Since 1962, Haladjian is an independent multi-specialist and multi-market family group that distributes on a large-scale mining wear part, mechanical parts, services, stock management, mining component and parts rebuild programs for the mining industry. Our African’s warehouses and our mining experts’ team, allow us to be reactive and efficient to support you quickly. To support you on your dailies activites, our field technicians team (mechanics and welders) is fully trained to provide quality work and to assist you on your maintenance strategy in the aim to reduce your maintenance costs. Haladjian give you as well the opportunity to give new life to your used component with ours CRCs. To resume Haladjian is your best alternative to maintain your fleet cost efficiently.
Have you ever wondered how the highly advanced city of Hong Kong receives their water supply? Located on Gloucester Road in Hong Kong, the Water Supplies Department (WSD) provides a fresh and wholesome supply of fresh drinkable water to the 7.5 million people of Hong Kong.
When we consider our own water supply, often not much thought goes into where the water comes from, and the specific requirements that the water must meet before it becomes drinkable. This is however a key focus of the WSD, whose emphasis is on sustainability, as well as meeting supply and demand. To be able to maintain Hong Kong’s water supply, they developed a two-pronged approach with a key emphasis on managing freshwater demands and building resilience in the supply. Put simply, this is achieved through diversification of their water resources, so that they are prepared for the major impacts of climate change over the near future. As part of their strives toward sustainability, WSD aims to reduce the per capita freshwater consumption by ten per cent by 2030. This goal will only be achieved with a set of forward-thinking demand management measures. Such measures include water conservation, waterloss management in both government and private water mains, as well as increased utilisation of lower-grade water (such as seawater and recycled water, used only for non-potable purposes).
WSD demonstrates a great emphasis on providing safe drinking water. In order to reach such aims, they take precautionary measures to avoid contamination of their water supply. Such precautions are packaged in the Action Plan for Enhancing Drinking Water Safely in Hong Kong, set in motion in September 2017. Additionally, the WSD also released a Water Safety Plan Subsidy Scheme in July 2020. This was used to implement a plan, so that property owners and management agents of private residential or composite buildings could put in place a Water Safety Plan for Buildings, which could effectively facilitate the management of water safety risks.
As you would expect from a business that puts sustainability first, they have a clear set of core values. Fundamentally, the WSD key vision is to excel in satisfying customers’ needs for the provision of quality water services. This means that alongside the importance of an eco-conscious business, they first and foremost aim to meet the demands of Hong Kong’s water supply. With this in mind, it is understandable that WSD holds a customerorientated approach in high regard. This is also shown in their guarantee to make the most effective use of their resources
and technology to continuously improve their resources. Consequently, the WSD key values can be summarised as such:
So what does the WSD do, and how do the different systems work? Well, its key role is to operate and maintain fresh water and seawater supply, alongside distribution systems that maintain a reliable water supply to the customers. Statistically, the freshwater supply system covers a total of 99.9% of Hong Kong’s population. In regard
to seawater, the supply network for flushing covers approximately 85% of Hong Kong’s population. Now down to the technical details. The freshwater supply consists of three main elements; the viz collection of raw water, water treatment, and finally distribution. The raw water collected from the reservoirs at Dongjiang is delivered by a large network of transfer mains for water treatment. Next, treated water is pumped through a large pipe main to service reservoirs. Finally, from there the water naturally flows to the various allocated buildings, be it residential, commercial, or industrial. On the other hand, the seawater supply system is completely separated from the freshwater supply system. The former usually uses a ‘balance tank’ configuration. Ultimately, the sea water is then pumped to the customers, with any leftover water delivered and stored in service reservoirs.
The beginnings of the WSD have a long and established history of supply and demand. The WSD was first set up over a century ago in 1902, when it was first known as the aptly named Waterworks Office. Today, however, the WSD has come a long
way, as it now employs approximately 4,500 people, with an annual budget of HK$8,404.0m (2018-19). When looking at the history of the WSD more closely, we can see how they have achieved such success, through major developments within the business over the past century-and-a-half. The development of the first water well took place in 1851, as it was commissioned by the Chinese Government for public water supply. Small ponds were also constructed on the upper parts of the mainstream river to store water for public use.
By 1863, however, the Pok Fu Lam reservoir was constructed, with a capacity of 9,000 cubic metres and a further aqueduct was completed. What we can witness, however, is how quickly the water supplies begin to develop, due to the fact that by 1877 the second Pok Fu Lam reservoir was constructed with a capacity of 310,000 cubic metres.
A further cornerstone of the water supplies construction can be witnessed in 1910 with the building of the first impounding reservoir in Kowloon. This development is significant because it revolutionised the way in which water was supplied to the bustling Kowloon district. Furthermore, in 1930 even greater advancements were made in the completion of the first cross-harbour pipeline. This was built in order to relieve Hong Kong’s water shortages. Laying 6000 ft of pipeline along the seabed was a great feat, but was completed in an incredible fifty-seven days.
Moreover, in 1968, authorities chose Plover Clover, in Tolo Harbour, to construct Hong Kong’s first man-made lake, named Plover Cove Reservoir. Overall, these particular projects cost HK$407,000,000. After many developments, such as the launch of the Replacement and Rehabilitation Programme of Water Mains, more administrative tasks were undertaken to ensure that the water supply met the demand of the growing population. Such cases include the implementation of Total Water Management in 2008. This ensured that there was a balanced supply and demand of water that supported water conservation and sustainable development.
Finally, in 2015 the WSD celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Dongjjand water supply to Hong Kong, in which a commemoration ceremony was held. Therefore, within this vast chronology, we can see how the supply and demand of fresh water had many technological developments, to keep up with Hong Kong’s ever-growing populous.
Are you not quite sure how to maintain the freshness of your water? Then no fear! The WSD helpfully provides some tips and tricks to keep your water clean. The WSD recommends that for regular and domestic use of water, you should run the tap for at least two minutes after long periods of stagnation, like overnight for instance. Such a precaution is used to ensure that there are no sediments remaining in your drinking water that make it undrinkable. The WSD further recommends that if you have just moved into a new property, you should run your drinking water tap every morning and every night for approximately 15 minutes. Such a precaution is advised as hot water can potentially increase the number of impurities that might come from pipes and fittings. To avoid this further, it is advised you do not drink or cook from the hot tap.
Additional steps you can take to maintain the cleanliness of your water involve tap hygiene. According to WSD guidance, you should regularly clean your domestic taps, including the showerhead. Specifically, both the outside and the inner part
of the spout should be cleaned on all your water appliances. Another vital piece of information given by the WSD is to make sure your kitchen and bathroom within your home are well ventilated, to avoid developing airborne mould. Finally, if you have been noticing a smell or bad taste to your water recently, then it is advised that you put a jug of tap water in your refrigerator. In doing this, the chlorine smell or taste should eventually evaporate. Further, cover the jug and use the water within a 24-hour period to prevent any repeated bacteria growth. These Are just a few things to consider when keeping your water clean at home. Overall, WSD has an established history of maintaining the high demands of water supply for Hong Kong, as well as key technological advances to broaden the horizons of the water supply industry. As we have seen, this is shown through key infrastructure that enables efficient and clean water for millions of people every day. Furthermore, their clear focus on sustainable and eco-conscious practise means that they can pave the way for the future of water supplies for an everchanging climate.
Rooted in Hong Kong since 1968, Asia Allied Infrastructure Holdings Limited (Stock code: 00711.HK) is a Hong Kong Listed Company which operates diversified businesses in construction engineering and management, property development and assets leasing, security and facility management, tunnel management, non-franchised bus services, medical technology and healthcare. In recent years, we’ve been developing and expanding its businesses in Asia Pacific.
Website: www.asiaalliedgroup.com
The new fully electric Mercedes EQC 400 is an elegant and comfortable family SUV, with an adventurous sporty flare. In the recent spike in fuel prices, it is no surprise that many people will be turning to electric cars as a new normal in the coming years.
In my time with the Merc EQC, I travelled the breadth of the country, from a wedding in Nottingham, to family fun in Newcastle, and back across to a break in the Lake District. Therefore, having had the opportunity to really put the EQC to the test for an extended period, I can comfortably say that the future of electric cars is looking bright, even if a few adjustments are needed for it to be fully proficient.
Upon first look of the car, it oozes sophistication and swarveness, with a well-designed and fluid exterior that reflects its highly advanced technological interior. The wheels alone reflect the kind of precision and detail that Mercedes have undertaken, with 21 inches of rubber and steel that
not only make the car appear robust and powerful, but make the drive easy and comfortable. The sloping of the roof at the back also contributes to the sleek appearance of the vehicle, reflecting its frisky sporty side.
Some of the model features, optional extras and colours shown may not be available, or may only be available in
Design Sustainability Technology Mercedes-EQ EQC
Once you climb into the roomy and airy interior cabin, you can’t help but marvel at the dash display and interior features. Such goodies include a 10.25-inch central display that is touch enabled, offering a diverse but easily accessible MBUX operating system. Another highly efficient feature is the brilliant rear-view camera, that makes reversing ten times easier, and helps get over the slightly restricted visibility of the rear window. (Due to the fancy sloping roof)
But enough of the techno gadgets – how does it actually feel and drive? The car’s interior was incredibly roomie, providing lots of space for
both you and the rest of the family. The option of heated seats is also perfect as we approach the winter months.
In terms of the drive itself, it offers four different driving modes depending on what mood you’re in. Its default is the standard ‘comfort mode’ which provides an easy and relaxing drive, however if you’re feeling a bit more fruity you can shove it in sport mode, which boast 0 to 62mph acceleration in 5.1 seconds, something highly that is impressive for a family car of that size.
One thing I would highlight to look out for is the driving range that it offers. At full rapid charge of the vehicle, I found it to only do a range of 186 miles, and when the car is fully loaded (kids and all), it only achieved 135-140 miles at full charge. You might find that if you trickle charge it at home over an extended period of time (say, 24 hours +)
it may better, but overall, this is an area that could be improved. Particularly when the alarm goes off at 30 miles, after which the miles begin to disappear… fast. This means that you really have to plan out your journey. When I was travelling across the country, I found that I did about six full charges. Prices of the charges greatly varied. Rapid chargers on the motorway were by far the most expensive, and although charging points at supermarkets were cheaper, they took much longer. So in hindsight I believe I would own a hybrid version rather than fully electric. This however, more of an issue of the infrastructure available rather than the car itself, but it is something important to consider.
Overall, Mercedes have been able to achieve a fully electric car that is silent, elegant and beautiful, whilst still being a Mercedes beast of motor.
