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DPA posted 25pc growth in 2004

DUBAI — In 2004, the Dubai Ports Authority (DPA) posted a record growth of almost 25 per cent in the total number of containers handled at Port Rashid and Jebel Ali Port, according to the latest yearly statistics released by the DPA.

Since the establishment of the DPA in 1991, it has showed consistent and steady growth. In 2004 DPA accommodated 6.42 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units, a standard shipping container) and was ranked as the 10th largest port in the world.

DPA now have the capability of handling 7 million TEUs, making it the third fastest growing port in the world.

To supplement its enhanced capacity, DPA received late last year the first four of its 10 giant gantry cranes. These cranes, known for their speed and flexibility in container handling are the largest of their kind in the world. They were installed and operational as of the 1st week of February 2005. The cranes are going to substantially enhance DPA's handling capacity.

In its global operations, DPA signed an agreement with CSX Corporation to acquire its international terminal business and related interests for $1.15 billion (Dh4.22 billion), and thus became world’s sixth largest global port operator. CSX's international terminal business comprises of 9 terminals with 24 berths across the world having future combined capacity of 14.6 million TEUs.

When it was first established, the DPA handled a total of 1,255,260 TEUs, this includes inbound, outbound and transhipment containers. In its first ten years this number grew to 3,058,868 TEUs, averaging a growth of about 14 per cent per year. Whereas in the last 4 years since 2000 the number of TEUs handled has grown from 3,058,868 to 6,428,883, posting a yearly average growth of 27.5 per cent. As a testament to the importance of Dubai as a shipping centre and the role of the DPA in promoting the growth of the industry, in 2000 the total quantity of goods loaded and discharged at Port Rashid and Jebel Ali Port was 44,327,960 tonnes while in 2004 the number of tonnes grew to 77,359,543. That is a total growth of almost 75 per cent in 5 years or about 15 per cent growth a year. There are a total of 106 berths provided by the DPA, 35 of which are located at Port Rashid and the remaining 71 at Jebel Ali Port.