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Abu Dhabi planning new port in Musaffah industrial township

ABU DHABI — After the announcement of the Khalifa Port in Taweelah, Abu Dhabi is planning another port in Industrial township of Musaffah scheduled to be operational by 2009.

The Higher Corporation for Specialised Economic Zones, (ZonesCorp) which is responsible for developing and regulating the industrial free zones in the emirate, yesterday signed a contract with Royal Haskoning Consultants for carrying out a project feasibility study.

The port will have a capacity to handle industrial cargoes to the tune of five to nine million metric tonnes per annum. The industrial port of Abu Dhabi is expected to commence its operations in the year 2009.

The port will be second of its kind in the emirate.

Earlier this year, Abu Dhabi Ports Company announced the construction of Khalifa Industrial City and Port in Taweelah, 40-kilometre from Abu Dhabi, with an outlay of Dh8 billion, where operations of Port Zayed will be shifted after five years.

"The consultant will carry out the tasks necessary to achieve the objectives of the feasibility study and to estimate the market potential of a new industrial port in Abu Dhabi covering both the potential trade volumes and revenues. It will also identify the key factors that are most likely to attract potential users to the port and which factors would provide a competitive edge over neighbouring ports," said Jaber Al Khaili, manager of engineering department at ZonesCorp.

" It will also specify a design return period and service life of port facilities and conduct the identification of design constraints, such as existing structures and environmental factors, he said.

The consultant will provide a long-term expansion plan for this project according to the future volume projections besides the detailed analysis of this port's market potential. It will also undertake an analysis to determine the requirements for upgrading the existing channel to Musaffah (route A) or create a new channel (route B) to service the types of vessels this port's potential clients are likely to use in addition to transportation infrastructure, safety and security.

Norman Johnston, CEO, ZonesCorp, said this project is part of many mega projects which ZonesCorp is planning to undertake in the near future, to help create an advanced economic infrastructure supporting the economy of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. "Such projects will help us provide all the businessmen and investors better services and amenities," he added.

The contract came after the ZonesCorp signed two contracts with Omeir Holding Group and Al Rayan Investment Company to build two labour residential complexes in Musaffah area in Abu Dhabi and other two other in Al Ain Industrial City.

Johnston believed that these projects and the future ones will make Abu Dhabi, an ideal place for investments and provide businessmen with the world class infrastructure they need for investing in the emirate.

Norman Johnston, CEO ZonesCorp signed on behalf of the Corporation while Torbin Hansen, represented Royal Haskoning Netherlands B.V.