Abu Dhabi: Abu Dhabi Ports Company (ADPC) Sunday said it has awarded a Dh350 million port systems contract to the Al Jaber GIS joint venture in the Khalifa Port and Industrial Zone (KPIZ) project in Taweelah.

"The lump sum port systems contract follows an extensive tendering process and is the third major construction package awarded in the last 10 months for the development of the new port and industrial zone at KPIZ," ADPC said in a statement.

"The complex package of work is due to commence onsite in the first quarter of 2011 following detailed design and procurement phases. Completion is scheduled in the third quarter of 2012 to complement the completion of the overall port, it added.

ADPC said the contract involves the detailed design, procurement, integration and installation of the control systems throughout the onshore and offshore areas of Khalifa Port including a port operating system, a vessel traffic system, security, CCTV, telephony and communications, and all associated fibre optic and control system cabling.

The Khalifa Port and Industrial Zone consists of a new, world-class multi-purpose offshore port and one of the largest integrated industrial zones in the world.

When Phase 1 is completed in mid-2012, Khalifa Port will have an annual container capacity of 2 million TEUs, and a cargo capacity of 9 million tonnes.

The industrial zone will be operational from 2013 and will feature over 100 square kilometres of basic, midstream and downstream manufacturers in industry clusters such as aluminum, petrochemicals, glass and paper.

"The Khalifa Port will be built in five phases. The operations of the existing Mina Zayed will be shifted to the Khalifa Port in late 2012. Mina Zayed handled 530,000 TEUs in 2009 and 4.3 million tonnes of general cargo.

The KPIZ is also focusing on developing small ports around the emirate. At least four smaller ports are under development, including the Mina Mussafah.

The approximately $408 million (Dh1.4 billion) Mina Mussafah channel relocation project is expected to be completed this month.