Dubai: DP World, one of the world’s largest port operators, is building a new $1.6 billion (Dh5.87 billion) terminal at its flagship Jebel Ali Port in response to expected growth in demand leading up to Expo 2020.
Phase 1 of the new Container Terminal 4 will add 3.1 million twenty-footy equivalent units (TEUs), a shipping container measurement, by 2018, increasing capacity at the port to 22.1 million, DP World said in an emailed statement on Tuesday.
“The new capacity is a response to feedback from customers expressing the need for more capacity at Jebel Ali due to an expected increase in trade in the run up to Expo 2020. Shipping lines will be able to bring more of the world’s largest vessels to our terminals so helping improve the efficiency of the region’s supply chain,” stated Sultan Bin Sulayem, chairman of DP World.
The new terminal will have a 1,200 metre long quay with an 18-metre draft, 13 “of the world’s largest” cranes and 35 automated rail mounted gantry cranes, DP World said.
By 2018, the port complex will have at least 100 cranes and the length of the quay will be around 11,000 metres.
Terminal four is being built on a reclaimed island north of the existing Terminal 2, allowing the port operator to further expand capacity to 7.8 million TEUS, and will be connected by a 3,000 metre causeway and bridge to land near Terminal 2.
DP World also announced on Tuesday its first half 2015 gross container volumes across all global ports, which rose 4.1 per cent compared to a year earlier.
UAE terminals, including Jebel Ali, handled 7.9 million TEUs over the six months ending June 30, 2015, an increase of 6 per cent compared to a year earlier.
Gross container volumes handled in the Europe, Middle East and Africa region increased 7.1 per cent. The Asia Pacific and Indian subcontinent recorded 2.8 per cent growth. Meanwhile, America’s and Australia markets handled 0.1 per cent less than a year earlier.
“Full-year market volume growth is now forecast to be at approximately 3 per cent, and DP World is expected to perform ahead of the market. Overall, given the solid first half volume performance, we remain confident of meeting full year market expectations,” stated group chief executive Mohammad Sharaf.
