Abu Dhabi's Khalifa Port handles record cargo

Abu Dhabi - It sees surge in containers, general and bulk cargo, RoRo and cruise tourists.

Khalifa Port handled record number of containers in 2015, setting a record in annual cargo volumes.
The container terminal in Taweelah witnessed a significant surge in volumes during 2015 in container cargo, general and bulk cargo, roll-on-roll-off (RoRo) and cruise tourism. Khalifa Industrial Zone (Kizad) also saw increased investments.
Khalifa Port Container Terminal, which is operated by Abu Dhabi Terminals (a subsidiary of Abu Dhabi Ports), handled 32 per cent more containers in 2015. The terminal moved 1,504,293 TEUs (twenty foot equivalent units/containers), up from 1,137,679 TEUs in 2014.
RoRo traffic saw a 27 per cent upturn, with 134,272 vehicles, up from 106,071 vehicles in 2014.
All RoRo operations were transferred to Khalifa Port from Zayed Port in 2015 to meet the rising demand. Better yard and terminal facilities and services at Khalifa Port have contributed to the upsurge in volumes.
General and bulk cargo saw a 20 per cent upswing to 15,310,847 million freight tonnes (FT) from 12,804,248 million FT in 2014.
The surge in general and bulk cargo volumes across Abu Dhabi Ports indicates rising import and export activities related to industrial and infrastructure development projects in the emirate.
Abu Dhabi's rapidly expanding cruise industry witnessed 16 per cent growth, with 170,360 cruise passengers visiting the emirate in 2015, up from 146,997 cruisers previous year.
The newly opened Abu Dhabi Cruise Terminal at Zayed Port is expected to further drive this growth.
The Khalifa Industrial Zone or Kizad saw 21 standard musataha agreements (SMAs) signed this year with national and international investors, and three plot-extension SMAs with existing investors. These projects represent over 1.384,017 million square metres of land leased in 2015.
Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, CEO of Abu Dhabi Ports, linked the success to the ongoing investments in equipment, technology and workforce capabilities.
"Abu Dhabi Ports' business focus is to deliver value to customers by supporting their businesses through its integrated services and offerings. We are proud to be in a position to support the economic growth being witnessed in the emirate and intend to continuously invest in enabling the nation's maritime trade and industrial development," he said.
Abu Dhabi Ports' investments in infrastructure, latest technologies and equipment have attracted more customers to the ports in the emirate.
The company officially inaugurated Al Mirfa Port in the Western Region of Abu Dhabi recently, after completing extensive redevelopment work. Three other ports in the region - Mugharrag Port, Delma Port and Sir Bani Yas - are also being redeveloped as part of the master development plan.
The infrastructural upgrade of these ports is expected to complete by 2017, which will play a key role in the development of the Western Region and support the emirate's economic diversification efforts.
Phase one of the semi-automated container terminal has a capacity of 2.5 million TEUs and 12 million tonnes of general cargo. Further phases of development will occur as market demand requires.
When all phases are complete, Khalifa Port will be able to handle 15 million TEUs and 35 million tonnes of general cargo per year.
Abu Dhabi Ports manages nine commercial, logistics, community and leisure ports, and Khalifa Industrial Zone serves a range of logistics and manufacturing investors.
- haseeb@khaleejtimes.com

• Abu Dhabi