WASHINGTON: A ceremony to mark the start of full operations at Hamad Port was held on 3 December. Speaking at a press conference held after the ceremony, HE Minister of Transport and Communications Jassim Saif Ahmed Al Sulaiti pointed out that working towards full operations began some time ago, saying “we completed all operational preparations to get to this day, with a view to achieving higher efficiency in operations at Hamad Port”, QIB reported. While praising the country’s strong leadership and guidance, HE the Minister also voiced pride in the technology used in the port operations, technology that is being used for the first time in Qatar.
Included in this is the advanced security and inspection systems which follow the highest international standards and safety measures, wherein 5,600 containers are inspected every day. This figure is among the highest recorded at the level of international ports, he added. Al Sulaiti also drew attention to the fact that the port is using the latest smart systems in the management of operations, following environmentally-friendly systems of the highest standards, adding that in the future the port will use driverless cars “for moving all employees inside the port”. He said that the second and third phases of the port construction had been integrated into one phase which will be completed by 2020 to 2021, based on the directives of HH the Emir, and the guidance of HE the Prime Minister and Interior Minister and the phase started on the day of the ceremony.
HE the Minister revealed that the values of the projects to be awarded for this phase in 2017 amounted QAR2.5bn ($686mn). He added that the private sector would take 60% of the total value of the project, being “a true partner in the work, so as to achieve the Qatar vision of Qatar by promoting this sector through its support and involvement in the progress process”. The minster revealed that the recently awarded joint venture to manage Hamad Port that went to management company Mwani Qatar and Milaha Qatar, is the start of a new phase to meet the needs of the domestic market as well as to find a future foreign investments and ports.
Since starting operations in April 2016 till the present time, Hamad Port has harboured more than 190 vessels, the minister pointed out, adding that the port’s capacity will reach two million containers, and ultimately reaching seven million containers per year, once all phases are completed. HE the Minister said that the price of services will be competitive in order to boost and motivate traders to import goods via the facility, adding that the prices will be announced shortly.
