Logistics

The collaboration will focus on investigating the possibilities of developing and applying Hycamite’s technology in marine applications. (Image source: Hycamite)

Hycamite TCD Technologies, a deep-tech company, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with two subsidiaries of Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, in order to promote the application of methane-splitting for power generation and propulsion onboard marine vessels

Hycamite breaks down methane molecules into clean hydrogen and solid, high-value carbon products using heat and its proprietary zero-emission technology. All of its products have a low carbon footprint and the company can tailor its high-value carbon products to customer needs and produce them in industrial quantities.

The two entities of Mitsui include MOL PLUS, an investor in early- and middle-stage startup companies that have the potential to reform ocean shipping, and MOLEA, a London-based company that is committed to offering customers across Europe and Africa high value-added services. Together, the three will aim to speed up efforts to reduce carbon emissions in the shipping sector with Hycamite starting operations at its recently-completed industrial methane-splitting plant in Kokkola, Finland, in early 2025.

“We are excited to partner with MOLEA and MOL PLUS to drive innovation in maritime decarbonisation. Hycamite has been working on the marine application through the development programme partly financed by Business Finland since 2022 and as we are starting the operations of our industrial-scale demonstration facility, we expect to gain a steep development in the understanding of the possibilities that our technology can bring. Our technology focuses on decarbonising some of the most hard-to-abate sectors in the world and marine traffic is one of those,” remarked Laura Rahikka, CEO at Hycamite. “Through collaboration with MOLEA, MOL PLUS, and their global technical teams, we can accelerate the development and promotion of the onboard methane-splitting application.”

Hycamite will collaborate with MOLEA and MOL PLUS to further develop its methane-splitting technology and the three will focus on investing the possibilities of developing and applying it in marine applications. They have a shared vision that, with the technology, LNG-fuelled ships can convert methane into hydrogen as they sail and the solid carbon can be offloaded at port of destination.

The new business unit will leverage NMDC Group’s experiences and capabilities in the logistics and technical services sector. (Image source: NMDC Group)

NMDC Group, the Abu Dhabi based EPC focusing on the dredging, marine and energy sectors, is broadening its offering with the establishment of a new business unit, NMDC LTS, which will focus on logistics and technical services

Building on NMDC Group’s experiences and capabilities in the logistics and technical services sector, NMDC LTS will own and/or operate NMDC Group’s significant resource pool of marine support craft, technical capabilities, plant and equipment to expand its services to the wider construction and industrial sectors.

Eng. Yasser Zaghloul, CEO of NMDC Group, said, “NMDC LTS will be a trusted platform that gives new partners access to one of the biggest construction logistics and technical services operators in the region and enable them to gain the benefits of efficiency, innovation, and service focused delivery that NMDC Group has built over the decades of success. We look forward to continuing to work with our current partners in this exciting next phase of NMDC Group’s growth, and to take our expertise and offering to new clients and markets.”

Peter Marvin, chief technical & resources officer of NMDC LTS added, “The delivery of EPC projects in the marine sector has unique challenges, requiring innovative solutions to enable the logistics and technical support necessary to build the infrastructure that our customers and partners need for their sustainable growth. Over decades NMDC Group has consistently proven its expertise, capability and capacity in this field delivering maritime and energy infrastructure around the world. NMDC LTS will take these strengths and expand its application to new customers, partners and industrial sectors through value-added collaboration and seeking to translate our extensive capabilities to meet their needs beyond the delivery of infrastructure. NMDC LTS is uniquely positioned to maximise the potential of this diversification into the logistics and technical services sectors.“

NMDC Group’s other business units are NMDC Dredging & Marine, NMDC Energy, NMDC Engineering and NMDC Construction.

Failing to notice and deal with safety issues can result in accidents. (Image source: Cat Lift Trucks)

Daily or pre-shift lift truck checks are all about avoiding tragedy and expense. Cat^® Lift Trucks offers practical advice on this, to keep your operation safe and profitable

Broadly speaking, daily checks have two main aims:

1. Safety – to stop lift trucks from being used in an unsafe condition
2. Optimum maintenance – to spot problems early, so they can be fixed before more serious damage develops

Skipping daily checks, or carrying them out incompletely, is a false economy. Failing to notice and deal with safety issues can result in accidents, leading to:

• Death or injury
• Employee sick leave
• Large fines (and damage to your company’s reputation)
• Repair bills for damaged trucks and facilities
• Replacement bills for damaged goods
• Downtime (with loss of productivity)

Failing to notice and deal with emerging defects, damage or wear can mean:

• Shorter component and truck lifespan
• Breakdowns (causing inconvenience, downtime and loss of productivity)
• Bigger repair bills

Considering these costs and consequences, preventative checks and maintenance actions should be seen as an excellent investment. At the very least, you should do what the laws in your country require. However, it pays to go beyond the minimum and take extra care of your business and your people.

Insist on training

Importantly, you should ensure your operators and any other staff involved in forklift checks are trained to carry them out properly. And if someone needs to switch on or move the lift truck during checking, maintenance or repair, make sure he or she is trained to operate it.

Follow the lift truck manufacturer’s instructions

The user guide that comes with your lift truck will tell you what should be checked and how often. That’s your starting point. Some items may need monthly or weekly rather than daily checks. Features to be checked will, of course, vary between models.

Think before you tick

Sometimes a daily checklist appears as little more than a list of systems and components. If an item looks OK, the checker gives it a tick. But what signs of a problem should the checker be looking for in each case? What would tell him or her if the item was not OK?

To help answer this, Cat Lift Trucks recently produced a daily checks guide. This expands the checklist into a series of more specific and detailed questions.

Look for clues

Taking just one example, a checklist might simply ask you to check the mast and fork carriage. Our guide goes further:

• Do any of the structures look worn, cracked, bent or otherwise damaged?
• Can you see traces of wall plaster or paint, suggesting they have been in a collision? Are they very rusty?
• Are there any loose or missing bolts or fixtures, particularly where the mast is attached to the chassis and the tilting mechanism?
• Are moving parts – including bearing surfaces – contaminated with materials like mud or cement, and are they well lubricated?
• Are there leaks from the hydraulic cylinders?

Report it

If you find a fault, report it immediately to the relevant manager. He or she will decide whether it’s safe to carry on using the lift truck or if it should be taken out of service.

Further information on Cat forklifts, warehouse equipment and related services can be found on its products page. See them in action here and follow the news on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.

Scheduled for completion by the end of 2025, this facility will span a 2,400 sq m. (Image source: MBRAH)

Mohammed Bin Rashid Aerospace Hub (MBRAH) has signed an agreement with Liebherr-Aerospace to establish a new MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul) facility at Dubai South.

Scheduled for completion by the end of 2025, this facility will span a 2,400 sq m area within the Aerospace Supply Chain cluster at MBRAH.

Based in Toulouse, France, Liebherr-Aerospace & Transportation SAS—a division of the Liebherr Group—delivers high-quality onboard solutions for aerospace and transportation, promoting sustainability through innovative products and services.

MBRAH, strategically located at Dubai South, serves as a premier free-zone hub offering global connectivity to leading airlines, private jet operators, MROs, and related sectors. This aerospace hub includes maintenance centres and training campuses, aligning with Dubai's goal to be a prominent aviation industry leader.

Tahnoon Saif, CEO of MBRAH, said, “We are pleased to sign this agreement with Liebherr- Aerospace. This partnership underlines our position in attracting the top players in the aviation sector to establish their presence at Dubai South and operate in an integrated economic environment where they can connect with international markets. We will spare no effort in supporting their expansion endeavours, in line with our mandate to solidify and cement Dubai’s position on the world aviation map.”