The Dubai Ports Authority (DPA) has achieved a 24 percent increase in container handling in the first six months of 2003. The figure records a total of 2.406 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU) from January to June 2003, compared to 1,936,247 TEUs in the same period last year.
Import figures for January to June 2003 also rose by 18 percent, while export figures correspondingly rose by 27 percent.
Latest progress at the DPA includes work on the major development of mega-berths 18, 19 and 20, which comprise the new Quay 4. The new deep-water berths, which will accommodate mega vessels with a draft of up to 16 meters, will add 1,300 meters of quay length and additional yard storage area. The total three-stage development is due to be completed in February 2005, although berth 18 will be fully equipped and operational as early as June 2004. The berths will offer additional gantry cranes and assorted handling equipment, already on order.
DPA has completed berth 11 and its extended container yard area, both of which is now operational, and commenced the development of berths 22 and 23, adding an additional 660 meters of quay length. The development of a reefer structure has begun, which will provide an additional reefer storage capacity of 600 slots to the existing capacity. Dredging and widening of the channel and harbor will deepen the channel to 17 meters and increase the width from 235 meters to 325 meters and will near completion in August. — (menareport.com)
© 2003 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
