JEDDAH, 15 May— Taking advantage of the privatization and expansion of the Kingdom’s huge energy sector and the growing market potential for transportation this would entail, German manufacturers have introduced to potential Saudi partners and authorities a flying airship that can carry up to 75 tons non-stop over a distance of 3,500 kilometers.
The giant CL160 and CL75 AirCrane by the Frankfurt-based CargoLifter company are designed to carry extra load over long distances in the shortest possible time compared to other means of transport.
Two of the company executives, Dirk Steffes and Peter Lennemann are currently visiting the Kingdom to present the airship to the Saudi market. They said the business community and officials have so far shown high level of interest in the project.
Talking to Arab News during a visit to Jeddah, the two managing directors regard the potential for this transport system very high given the Kingdom’s privatization drive and the opening up of new business avenues including larger power generation units, oil industry installations, offshore energy projects and shipment of goods from port to site locations.
The CargoLifter executives said the company is looking for further investors to broaden the shareholder base. The company will sell the service and not the airship, which is being built at a cost of 100 million euros. Commercial operation is expected to start by the year 2005.
In March at the annual general meeting of shareholders the company unveiled the new CL75 AirCrane, described as the largest lighter-than-air transportation system in the world. The prototype of the crane was originally designed as a test platform for CargoLifter CL160 airship systems. Marketing studies, however, revealed a significant potential for the crane system as another logistics solution in world markets. The AirCrane is currently undergoing tests to determine its usefulness in a number of niche market applications worldwide. Engineers have also completed extensive designing improvements on the CL160 to better align the airship to market expectations and future licensing requirements.
CargoLifter recently selected General Electric Company as engine supplier for the CL160 airship. The two companies concluded an agreement for a long-term relationship that also includes a letter of intent outlining how the two will cooperate in the development and completion of the airship.
“There are almost unlimited opportunities for us to work together. We are pleased that General Electric as global corporation is supporting the CargoLifter project in this way,” said Karl Bangert, CargoLifter member of the board following the signing of the agreement.
Europe will become the first market where the airship will be introduced. Both Steffes and Lennemann said the company has already surveyed a number of world markets and found great potential for this means of transport.
Brazil is among the major markets targeted by CargoLifter and is viewed with great enthusiasm regarding the potential market for the project in South America given the geographical conditions of the region.
The company also said its project was received with high interest in the United Arab Emirates where it has already received confirmation that Dubai would place land at its disposal free of charge in the Free Zone of Dubai Airport.
Last night in Riyadh, the project was presented to Saudi businessmen during a dinner hosted by the German Ambassador Dr. Herald Kindermann.
