The Middle East Container Repair Co (Mecro) has expanded into Jebel Ali with the acquisition of a container repair facility there. Mecro thus becomes the sole container repair operator in Jebel Ali.

"As per our estimates, the Jebel Ali facility should be handling more than 5,000 containers a month," Mecro General Manager John Ash said. "It is the right time to expand beyond our existing operations in Port Rashid and Mina Zayed."

Mecro will also invest in certain upgrades and modifications at the Jebel Ali facility, including health and environmental standards as prescribed by the authorities.

Besides United Arab Shipping Co (UASC) and some leading business groups in Dubai, other shareholders in Mecro are Kanoo Shipping, Stalco, Barber Shipping and the Gulf Agency Co. Ash discounted the possibility of the need to raise more equity capital to finance the recent purchase.

Middle East Container Repair Co's Port Rashid facility, set up in 1981, handles 5,000 containers a month, while in Mina Zayed it undertakes 15,000 inspections a year.

The Middle East Container Repair Co has four empty container handlers with hydraulic spreaders, one forklift with 20 and 40 feet frames, and three forklifts with wide carriages and extra-long forks. Supporting the three workshops are four mobile units.

Judging the outlook for container traffic this year, Ash said, "It's very difficult to say. Shipping lines are saving money wherever they can. While freight rates have been improving recently, they are still not particularly high."