Capt. Mohamed Al Shamisi, EVP, Ports’ Unit, ADPC has personally welcomed a delegation of leading European journalists at the Kizad Visitor Centre at Taweelah, part of the vast megaproject being built by ADPC, featuring Khalifa Port (inaugurated on 12/12/12) and Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi (Kizad).
The sixteen journalists also went on a site visit to the semi-automated container terminal at Khalifa Port.
The Chief Editor of the German-based, international maritime journal, Hansa magazine, Nikos Spath , said: “It is clear that the region has a growing influence on the worldwide maritime industry, and this cannot be ignored. Our readers are eager to know more.”
The delegation of 16 journalists is currently on a fact-finding tour of the UAE lasting several days.
Capt. Al Shamisi said: “ I was delighted with the interest shown by the journalists and they certainly left with a powerful impression of the impact which our megaproject is having on regional and international trade.”
Khalifa Port , the flagship state of the art gateway to Abu Dhabi, was officially inaugurated on December 12, 2012.
It is now handling all of Abu Dhabi’s container traffic following the 100% TEU traffic transition from Mina Zayed in late 2012. Khalifa Port has the first semi-automated container terminal in the region, the only one for 5000 kilometres.
Khalifa Port is crucial to the ADPC megaproject which includes Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi (Kizad), whose Area A consists of 51 square kilometres. Khalifa Port offers direct access for all companies setting up in Kizad. The megaproject will create more than 100,000 jobs, contributing 15% of the Emirate’s non-oil GDP by 2030.
With the commencement of commercial operations at Khalifa Port’s unique semi-automated container terminal, on September 1st, 2012, Abu Dhabi has seen record cargo traffic.
Designed with a 16 metres draft and a four kilometres quay wall, Khalifa Port features the latest technology and is capable of accommodating the largest container ships. The initial annual capacity of the port’s first phase is 2.5 million TEU’s of container traffic and 12 million tons of general cargo.
Through phased development the port is designed to grow to a capacity of 15 million TEU’s container traffic and 35 million tons of general cargo by 2030.
The offshore Port has been constructed on a reclaimed Port Island with an offshore area extending over 2.7 square kilometres and the Container Terminal situated more than four kilometres out to sea. This is to help protect the Ras Ghanada coral reef, adjacent to the onshore port areas. ADPC spent AED 880 Million (USD 240 million) building the 8 kilometre-long Environmental Protection Breakwater that helps protects the marine life and coral reef.
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Press Release, January 8, 2013