The US Agency for International Development (USAID) has extended SSA Marine's existing contract for the management of the port of Umm Qasr, Iraq until June 30, 2004. The original contract was due to expire on March 22, 2004.
No additional government funds will be required due to available funds from the original contract, reported a press release. SSA Marine has been managing the Iraqi port of Umm Qasr since the transfer of control from the British Military on May 23, 2003. Cargo handling operations include humanitarian aid, reconstruction and commercial cargo. SSA Marine also supervised the current regularly scheduled ferry service between Iraq and Dubai.
Since last year a group of twelve SSA Marine operations experts have managed the daily operations and security at the facility, and over 300 vessels, 1.2 million metric tons of cargo and more than 8,000 ferry passengers have called the port. — (menareport.com)
© 2004 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
