Abu Dhabi's Khalifa countdown begins
Khalifa port is making a bold statement in the UAE
As the first semi-automated terminal in the Middle East and an obvious rival to the expanding Jebel Ali, Abu Dhabi’s Khalifa port is already making its presence felt well before its 2012 opening.
Abu Dhabi Terminals chief executive Martijn van de Linde said that Khalifa port “challenges the status quo”, making efficient use of land area, reducing environmental impact and pushing regional standards to a “new level”.
Phase 1A will have a capacity of 2m teu, with an initial capacity of 1.1m teu on commercial opening in the fourth quarter of 2012.
“We don’t want to invent the wheel again, so Khalifa is based on a proven technology and performance,” added Joost Achterkamp, project manager for Abu Dhabi Ports Company. “We have project challenges; the schedule is very tight. The first ASC will be on site 10 months after the contract is awarded and delivery of all the equipment and TOC will be 19 months after contract award.”
The whole terminal is built offshore to protect the coral reef, and there is the possibility to switch to full automation if desired.
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