MSC opening terminal at Khalifa Port

The world’s second-largest container carrier has signed a 30-year concession agreement with Abu Dhabi Ports.    The world’s second-largest container carrier, Mediterranean Shipping Co., has signed a 30-year concession agreement with Abu Dhabi Ports to set up a new container terminal at Khalifa Port.
   Khalifa Port, in the United Arab Emirates, was established in December 2012 and has rapidly become one of the fastest-growing and technologically advanced port operations in the world. 
   Over the life of the concession with Abu Dhabi Ports, MSC is expected to invest about AED 4 billion ($1.08 billion) in new terminal equipment and technology at Kahlifa Port.
   “We are confident that with this investment we will continue to ensure a high level of service for our customers and have the capacity to grow the scale of our operations in the UAE,” said Diego Aponte, MSC’s president and CEO, in a statement.
   With MSC’s commitment, Khalifa Port plans to increase its current 12 gantry cranes to 25 over the next two years. Berths also will be deepened to continue handling the largest containerships in the world.
   “Abu Dhabi Ports has successfully attracted two of the world’s largest companies in the field of shipping and container handling to develop a regional hub at Khalifa Port. Over the next five years, the capacity of two container terminals at Khalifa Port will increase to more than 8.5 million TEUs annually,” said Capt. Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, CEO of Abu Dhabi Ports.
   MSC plans to start shifting some of its container handling in the region to Khalifa Port in July. This volume will increase Khalifa Port’s capacity from 2.5 million TEUs in 2017 to 5.3 million TEUs by 2020. The port is expected to land among the top 25 container-handing ports worldwide, starting next year, Abu Dhabi Ports said.