Services

The fleet includes 148 trucks, 150 railroad cars, and 215 trailers which include specialized glucose tankers, fat tankers, bulk feed carriers (bulkers), dumper, hoppers and flat beds and specialized cold trucks for vitamin and mineral premixes.  The fleet also includes 60 molasses tanks and 5 acid tanks.

Bulk Handling (Stevedoring)

·         ARASCO started the Bulk Handling Project in the Sea Ports of Dammam and Jubail since July 1997 after entering into a 10 year Lease contract with SEAPA  as a Bulk Grain handling Stevedorer.

·         The Lease contract permits ARASCO to operate and maintain the various Grain Handling and related machinery like Reggianne Grain Discharger Machine (200 Tons/hr.), Neuero Grain Discharger Machine(80 Tons/hr.) and also various related medium/heavy equipment like Bobcats, Cranes, Forklifts etc., during the tenure of the Lease Contract. The BHP is handling discharge of a wide variety of material like corn , barley, soybean meal/ pellets, sugar beat pellets, Cottonseed, Molasses etc. in King Abdulaziz  Port Dammam, and Barley & Soya-meal in Jubail Commercial Port.

·         The maintenance of all the equipment also comes under the responsibility of the ARASCO BHP. Hence, the Project mainly consists of an Operations Department which handles the Operation and Documentation Activities and a Technical Department which handles the Maintenance Activities.

Improvements

Compared with the status at the beginning of the Contract, ARASCO has achieved considerable improvement in the efficiency of Bulk Grain Handling Project by way of the following:

• The existing 200T/hr. Grain discharger Machines were modified for direct discharge by eliminating the cumbersome Hopper and Conveyor which enabled faster operation with lesser maintenance and achieved +40% efficiency.
• Two state of the art 200T/hr. grain Discharger machines were added to the existing fleet in Dammam, thereby enabling the project to handle up to 5 Vessels at a time.
• The 15 Tons Portal cranes which were practically under utilized were maintained and employed in continuously discharging Soya meal, thereby boosting the revenue for Dammam Port as well.
• In addition, The Project is offering Equipment like Grabs, Hoppers, Loaders, Backhoes, Bulldozer, and Forklifts etc. on hiring to other co-projects or other consignees. Spare able manpower is also given for hiring whenever possible. This has resulted in more customer satisfaction and also improving the credibility of the project

New Equipment

As per Lease Contract with SEAPA, the BHP has added some new Equipment like:

• 80 T/hr.Grain Discharging machines (Neuero): 4 in Dammam and 2 in Jubail)
• 200t/hr.Grain Discharger Machines (Buhler Portanova): 2 in Dammam
• Skid Steer Loaders ( Bobcat): 2 in Jubail and 4 in Dammam
• Air Compressor 15 Hp: 1 in Jubail
• Mobile Crane 30 Tons: 1 in Dammam
• Forklift 8 Tons: 1 in Dammam

Action Plan

• ARASCO has around one year more to complete the existing contract and the Company hopes to serve the customers in a better manner if the Contract is renewed/extended at least for a further period of 10 years.
• During the Financial Year 2003, the Project has achieved a commendable financial result with an increase in turnover by 9% over the previous year. The income from equipment hiring has increased by 6% also. During year 2004, there has been a slight fall in import of raw material for animal feed due to increase in International prices and reduction in rates of Import subsidy. This has almost stabilized by the year end and hence a further increase in imports is expected during the current year and the subsequent years.

• Another observation is that there has been a considerable increase in barley import in Jubail port since Year 2002. Jubail is sometimes facing inadequacy of Grain Discharge Equipment. As a long term planning, ARASCO recommends that Jubail Port must add at least one more 200T/hr.Grain Discharger to the existing fleet. Consequent to the addition of 2 Nos. 200t/hr. grain discharger Machines, the 80T/hr. machines are practically under utilized. Hence, Dammam can afford to transfer at least 2 Nos. 80 T/hr. Machines to Jubail in order to create a proper balance in the situation. Since, these equipments with their Gantry can be shifted by Floating Crane, an inter-Port documentation and arrangement has to be done for this equipment transfer. A diesel tank to store at least 10,000 tons diesel and replacing the existing 6 Ton Forklift with an 11 Ton Forklift will considerably boost the efficiency in Jubail Project.

• ARASCO has recruited and trained an adequate number of Manpower for the Operation and maintenance activities. This includes Saudis, whose strength is properly maintained as per Contractual requirement. During the coming five years, some more manpower needs to be added and trained as and when required.

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