CSCL's Uranus on her first voyage into Middle East
The largest vessel ever to have docked at Sharjah-based Gulftainer's Khorfakkan Container Terminal arrived on 2nd April on its first voyage from the Far East.
The ship, CSCL Uranus, fresh out of the Korean shipbuilding yard on the 9th March 2012, arrived at KCT at 15:00 hrs. on its maiden call, is the largest vessel ever to arrive at Khorfakkan Container Terminal and is the largest China Shipping Container Lines' (CSCL) vessel to arrive, not only into KCT, but the biggest vessel on this string to call into the Middle East.
With an overall length of 366 meters, a breadth overall of 51 meters and a total container capacity of 14, 074 TEUs this vessel is truly one of the giants in the industry today, and the port of Khorfakkan is proud to have been chosen to be the first port of call in the Middle East.
To celebrate the arrival of this incredible vessel into KCT for the first time, Simon Sundboell, Gulftainer Commercial Manager and Gulftainer management were there to welcome the vessel, her crew and representative from CSCL and present commemorative plaques to the CSCL ship captain and representatives of China Shipping UAE, Captain Wanjun and crew; Mr, Ibrahim Sharaf, Mr. Yassin Vakil, Mr. Ji Qing, and Mr. Simon Dai.
Gulftainer MD, Peter Richards, expressed his delight at the arrival of the vessel; "We are very pleased to welcome the CSCL Uranus into Khorfakkan. This is the first journey into the Middle East for this vessel and it's first docking at KCT; an experience that we are sure will demonstrate our efficiencies. For KCT, this marks another success in our ever-expanding client range."
Gulftainer's KCT was last year named 'Shipping Port of the Year' at the Annual Supply Chain and Transport Awards (SCATA 2011) in Dubai and is widely recognised as being one of the most efficient ports in the world. The selection of CSCL Uranus to dock in KCT on its maiden call further proves KCT's abilities as one of the world's fastest-moving ports.
KCT boasts 1,900 metres of quay, a 16 metre draft, 20 ship-to-shore Gantry Cranes, and is able to host the largest container vessels. It is strategically located on Sharjah's Indian Ocean coast. The convenient location outside the Strait of Hormuz and in proximity to the main east-west shipping routes, coupled with its easy access to the UAE's busy mainland cities of Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi makes KCT the perfect choice for shipping lines.
The port was recently expanded, increasing the total number of gantry cranes to 20 and the overall storage space to 450,000 square metres. The port welcomes vessels from major shipping lines year on year and is the world's fastest-operating container terminal.
Gulftainer Company Limited has been operating since 1976 in the UAE and operates three main ports in the Emirates: Sharjah Container Terminal (SCT), and Khorfakkan Container Terminal (KCT), both on behalf of the Sharjah Port Authority, and terminal operations on behalf international plastics solutions company, Borouge, in Ruwais, Abu Dhabi.
Gulftainer, a privately owned UAE enterprise established in 1976, is a rapidly expanding, dynamic ports and logistics company now operating in various parts of the world.
Two modern container terminals are operated on behalf of Sharjah Port Authority in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. Khorfakkan Container Terminal, located on the East coast of the Emirates, is one of the region's leading gateway container terminals, handling in excess of 3 million Teus.
Sharjah Container Terminal acts as a key import/export facility for industries located in Sharjah as well as for the industrial zones established in Dubai. Gulftainer also owns and operates a large Inland Container Terminal, providing 35 covered warehouses and container depot.
Other port operations include Ruwais Port in Abu Dhabi on behalf of International Plastics Company Borouge. 'Gulftainer Brazil' is due to start operations at the end of 2011 in the port of Recife.
Additionally, the Iraqi Ports Authority awarded Gulftainer the concession to operate and manage container facilities in Umm Qasr Port, the key marine gateway to Iraq. Terminal operations started on Berth 8 in August 2010 and a new terminal, Iraqi Container Terminal, with a capacity of 600,000 Teus will commence operations in early 2012. In Iraq, Gulftainer is also active in transportation and has several investment projects throughout the country.
The latest exciting development for the Company is a recently announced joint venture to operate and manage Ust-Luga Port in Russia's Baltic region, with activity commencing at the beginning of 2012
Gulftainer has also established Momentum, a third party logistics company focusing on transport, warehousing, container repair and logistics/ freight solutions. Joint-ventures are in operation in Turkey and Pakistan to provide customers with a larger market area. Momentum has grown rapidly and now has offices throughout the region and agents throughout the world - offering unmatched supply chain solutions.
More information on Gulftainer Group and its businesses may be found on its website at www.gulftainer.com.
For further information, please contact:
Serine Srouji
SAHARA Communications
Tel: +971 4 3298996
Fax: +971 4 3298995
Mob: +971 50 3286188
Email: serin@saharagcc.com
www.saharagcc.com
© Press Release 2012
