The new extension to the UAE’s Jebel Ali Port’s Container Terminal 2 has been officially opened with the arrival of the 366m MSC La Spezia.
During a quay-side ceremony, HE Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, DP World chairman, presented the ship's Master, Captain Dirk Radig and Nigel Fernando, Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) general manager, with a commemorative gift.
The expansion of the quay wall by 400m to 3,000m adds 1 million TEU to take capacity at the port to 15 million TEU and allowing simultaneous handling of six mega ships.
Together with Container Terminal 3, which is under construction, Jebel Ali Port will reach 19 million TEU capacity by 2014 and will be able to handle ten of the giant new generation vessels at the same time – the only port in the region able to do so.
“Expanding Jebel Ali Port's capacity in line with market demand is part of our commitment to be always ready to meet the emerging needs of the shipping lines and traders,” said Mohammed Sharaf, group chief executive officer, DP World.
With an average monthly throughput in excess of 1 million TEU over the past two years, Jebel Ali continues to be under pressure with larger vessels and a larger proportion of cargo destined for or originating from this market. The new T3 will be one of the finest modern marine terminals in the world, with a quay length of 1,860m, a 70 hectare storage yard and a draft of 17m.
Once completed, the new terminal will create more than 1,000 jobs.
