Sharjah: The port of Khor Fakkan will launch a new phase of expansion to boost its capacity of handling modern large cargo vessels, according to the company that manages the facility.
As part of the multi-million dirham first-phase expansion plan, launched over a year ago and due for completion in the coming weeks, four new super post-Panamax gantry cranes have been installed at Khorfakkan Container Terminal.
"We are now discussing the second phase expansion with the Sharjah government," said Keith Nuttall, commercial manager of Gulftainer Company Ltd, which manages container terminals in Sharjah and Khor Fakkan on behalf of Sharjah Ports Authority.
The quay length at Khor Fakkan has been increased by 400 metres to 1,500 metres, and the new stage of expansion will see another 400 metres added to the facility.
Under the expansion plan, four new giant cranes will be erected, taking the total number of cranes at Khor Fakkan to 18.
Strategic
Located on a strategic trading route, Khor Fakkan has emerged as an important regional container port. New investments are important for Khor Fakkan in attracting shipping lines operating large vessels, Nuttall said.
"Ships are getting bigger and bigger. Hundreds of new large vessels will be delivered to shipping lines in next two to three years. Expanding our facilities gives us the flexibility and space to handle such ships," he told Gulf News yesterday.
The port recently received France-based container shipping company CMA CRM's new Opera Class ship Otello. With 100,000 deadweight tonnes (dwt) and a length of 335 metres, it is one of the largest container ships afloat. Last year Khor Fakkan recorded a container volume of 1.9 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units), achieving six per cent growth over the 2004 throughput.
Sharjah Container Terminal handled 228,170 throughput in 2005, about 24 per cent higher than the volume in 2004. "Looking at the continuing economic expansion in the UAE, we are expecting similar growth in business this year," Nuttall said.
