Khalifa Port set for expansion

AED2.2bn will be invested in the development of South Quay and Khalifa Port Logistics, as well as AED 1.6Bn on expansion at Abu Dhabi Terminals.

The South Quay development, which will be completed by Q1 of 2021, is composed of a three km quay-wall with 18.5m along-side draft for general cargo, ro-ro and bulk usage. It will also include eight berths, and 1.3Mn square metres of terminal yard.

The Khalifa Logistics expansion, for multi-purpose usage, will encompass a 3.1km quay wall with an 8m draft, 15 berths and land plots.

Capt. Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, Group CEO of Abu Dhabi Ports, said: “Through strategic collaboration with partners and top industry players, such as ADT, MSC, China’s CSP, and Autoterminal Barcelona, Khalifa Port is developing in a sustainable manner and has become one of the fastest growing ports in the world.

He added: “Khalifa Port is not only a global maritime hub but also an important contributor to the connectivity of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).”

Phase 1 of the South Quay expansion will be completed by Q4 2020, while Phase 2 and the Khalifa Logistics expansion will be completed by Q1 2021. These two expansion projects will create more than 2,800 direct and indirect jobs and contribute more than AED 3.2Bn to the emirate’s GDP by 2025.

The expansion at ADT will include an extension of the quay from 1,400 to 2,265m and an addition of 10 new ship-to-shore quay cranes — effectively doubling ADT’s handling capacity from 2.5Mn to 5Mn TEUs. Additionally, the new investment will include significant technological advancements, such as fully automated truck loading and discharge.

CSP Abu Dhabi Terminal has now shifted from its trial operation phase to being commercially fully operational.

The deep-water, semi-automated container terminal includes the largest Container Freight Station in the Middle East and positions Abu Dhabi as the regional base for COSCO’s global network of 37 ports.