Emirates Port Services to manage Ajman port under 10-year contract

Emirates Port Services (EPS) has won a 10-year contract to manage Ajman port, making it the second UAE port to be managed by a private sector company. EPS is a joint venture between diversified business group Emirates Trading Agency (ETA) and Ras Al Khaimah's Union Group.

EPS Director Hameed Ibrahim said the company would invest in developing two more berths, constructing buildings, and erecting sufficient warehouses in the port. Khorfakkan is the other port managed by a private company, Gulftainer Co Ltd, for 14 years. Jebel Ali port was initially managed by SeaLand, which is now merged with Maersk to become the largest shipping company in the world, it is currently managed by Dubai Ports Authority (DPA).

Ajman port was managed by Ajman Port Services (APS), part of the Momentum Group, until EPS won the contract recently through bidding in which the Momentum group also participated along with two other companies.

EPS, which employs over 240 people, plans to increase the volume of cargo handling, and Ibrahim believes that by the second year the company will be in a position to handle 50 per cent more cargo.

The ETA Group is one of the UAE's leading business groups with a staff strength exceeding 15,000. The group's interests involve shipping to manufacturing, port services and engineering. The port, which had a depth of five metres when first built, is now eight metres deep, and EPS plans to dredge it to 10.5 metres, to cater to 40,000-50,000 DWT ships.

The port, which has 12 active berths, handles above 600 TEUs per month. "This is basically a break-bulk port," Ibrahim said. ETA has been associated with shipping for some time, and manages cargo handling at the Tamil Nadu State Electricity Board (TNSEB) terminal in Ennore Port.

Ajman port has carved out a niche for itself. "A number of shipping lines, sea feeder operators and short-haul coastal and regional shipping companies have started taking keen interest in this port," Ibrahim said.