Dubai: DP World’s flagship Jebel Ali Port was the most productive port in 2014, according to the latest JOC Port Productivity report that looks at 771 ports worldwide.
The port handled 131 moves per ship per hour in 2014, a 10 per cent improvement on the 119 moves it had in 2013 when it was also the world’s most productive port.
JOC defines productivity as the average number of moves per hour for each ship. A move is the loading, offloading and repositioning of shipping containers.
In an emailed statement, DP World Chairman Sultan Bin Sulayem said the top ranking is a reflection of the company’s investment in the port including the soon-to-be completed semi-automated Terminal 3.
“We constantly work towards improving turnaround times for ships at our berths, which in turn delivers benefits down the supply chain to other stakeholders,” stated Bin Sulayem.
Six ports from China featured in the top 10 as well as one from Japan and South Korea. Sharjah’s Khor Fakkan Port, operated by Gulftainer, was listed as the tenth most productive port in the world.
However, its year-on-year productivity rate slipped to 100, down from 119 in 2013.
In the Europe, Middle East and Africa, Jebel Ali, Khor Fakkan and Abu Dhabi’s Khalifa Port were the most productive.
Oman’s Salalah Port was fourth and Saudi Arabia’s Jeddah Port was seventh. Ports from Germany, Netherlands, Spain and Belgium also made the regional top 10.
