Dubai Ports named preferred bidder for Aden container terminal

Dubai Ports named preferred bidder for Aden container terminal    Rapidly expanding Dubai Ports International (DPI), the recent purchaser of CSX World Terminals, has been named preferred bidder to manage and develop terminal operations at both Aden and Ma’alla container terminals for 30 years.
   The Aden terminal was originally operated by Singapore-based PSA, which pulled out after the Iraq war caused a jump in insurance premiums for ships calling at Aden.
   DPI said its development plan includes investing more than $370 million during the life of the concession in new equipment, infrastructure and management systems in order to increase annual capacity to 3.5 million TEUs.
   Construction on the first phase of the development will commence as soon as DPI engages in the project to be completed in 2008. The first phase development will raise capacity to 1.7 million TEUs, by increasing quay length to 1,100 meters (3,609 feet) and adding seven super-post Panamax gantry cranes and supporting yard handling equipment.
   Aden container terminal, was completed in March 1999, and has a quay length of 700 meters (2,297 feet). In 2004, Aden’s total throughput was about 280,000 TEUs.
   Yemen’s Council of Ministers also approved DPI Terminals partnership proposals for Aden Freezone, Industrial Park and Dry Docks.
   “The Port of Aden has for centuries been one of the world’s leading shipping hubs, serving as the gateway to the Red Sea and strategically positioned to support shipping moving to and from the Suez Canal,” said Mohammed Sharaf, managing director of DPI Terminals.
   In March, DPI was awarded a 30-year concession to develop and operate the container terminal at the port of Fujairah, in the United Arab Emirates. In February, DPI signed an agreement with the Cochin Port Trust to construct, develop and operate an international container transshipment terminal at Vallarpadam, Kochi, India.
   Last year, DPI and its existing four international port operations — Jeddah, Djibouti, Vizag and Constantza — achieved 26.5 percent growth.