Jebel Ali Port capacity raised

DP World announced the construction of a 400 metre quay extension at its flagship Jebel Ali Port, increasing the capacity at the facility by 1 million TEU to 15 million TEU.

The expansion, expected to be concluded by the end of 2012, will extend the quay at Jebel Ali Container Terminal 2 to 3,000 metres. This will permit Jebel Ali to handle up to six vessels of 15,000 TEU simultaneously, hence improving efficiencies and reducing turnaround times.

Mohammed Al Muallem, Senior Vice-President and Managing Director, DP World, UAE Region, in his keynote address to the TOC Container Supply Chain Middle East 2011 Conference, said of the expansion plans: “We have seen very strong container volume growth in the region, with DP World, UAE Region handling a record 6.1 million TEU in the first six months of 2011. This further expansion of Jebel Ali demonstrates our commitment to deliver the best-in-class infrastructure for our customers and continues to ensure Jebel Ali is integral to delivering trade growth within the region.”

The UAE Region also delivered its best ever quarterly performance with a second quarter throughput of 3.1 million TEU.

The last major expansion at Jebel Ali was an additional 5 million TEU which opened in phases from 2008. T2 is currently equipped with 29 Super Post Panamax gantry cranes and 60 Rail Mounted Gantries (RMG), and with a draught of 17 metres is capable of handling the world’s largest container liners.

Hosted by DP World, the three-day TOC conference and exhibition event is being held under the theme of “Delivering the Next Generation of Ports, Shipping & Logistics”. Dozens of international and regional delegates, including industry leaders, experts and government officials, are gathered in Dubai to examine the realities and challenges of the containerised logistics business in the Middle East.

Mr Al Muallem said the way forward for the region’s ports and shipping sector would be through proactively delivering operational efficiencies that bring measurable benefits to the supply chain community.

He said: “Customers are increasingly looking at port operators and shipping lines as strategic innovation partners, and it is the responsibility of the industry to rise up to this expectation. Increased collaboration among all parties in the supply chain can help create greater understanding of the industry’s changing needs and build partnerships based on strategic innovation and improved efficiencies for all.”

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