With planned quayside depth of 17 meters and a wharf length of 1000 meters, Jordan's sole container port is set to become an increasingly important shipping hub for the Middle East and Levant.
Aqaba-Jordan - The Aqaba Container Terminal (ACT) announced a terminal expansion project, including a 460 meter extension of the quay, which will increase annual container throughout capacity to a projected 2 million TEUs when fully completed and equipped.
The Port's 2009-2013 action plan calls for overall capital expenditure of $235 million USD, bringing total investment since 2006 to $335 million USD. The 500,000 square meter (124 acre) facility will double its wharf length to 1000 meters. Two super Post-Panamax cranes, each capable of 18-container reach are scheduled for delivery in the first quarter of 2010, with additional units added as container volumes continue to increase.
ACT, which is part of the APM Terminals Global Terminal Network and in a joint venture with Aqaba Development Corporation, is the Kingdom of Jordan's primary access to the international shipping lanes of the Red Sea and beyond. Despite the severe drop-offs in container traffic worldwide due to the global financial and credit crisis, ACT saw container traffic grow by 25% during the first three quarters of this year. Container volume at the port surged by 42% to approximately 600,000 TEUs in 2008.
Charles Menkhorst, CEO of APM Terminals Africa, Middle East and India Subcontinent region stated "APM
Terminals is committed to developing and upgrading several terminals in the region and ACT is one of the major projects we are focusing on to develop as a hub. Our strategy is to ensure port infrastructure keeps pace with market growth and we are taking the necessary steps today to ensure Jordan's future is served by a world-class port."
"This expansion represents not only our commitment to the people and economy of Jordan, but to the entire Red Sea and Levant, as well as interior destinations such as Iraq," added ACT's Chief Executive Officer Klaus Holm Laursen.
Imad Najeeb Fakhoury, CEO of the Aqaba Development Corporation (ADC) and Chairman of the Board of ACT, stated "This project is a major milestone not only for Aqaba, but for the Kingdom as a whole in terms of upgrading and expanding Jordan's supply chain positioning through the Aqaba gateway, making a significant contribution to the prosperity of the national economy. The increasing volume demands on the terminal, in spite of the financial crisis, placed ACT's capacity under pressure, resulting in a call for such a move which is in line with our master plan. The project will be completed in stages with the final phase set for 2013, enhancing the role of Aqaba as a strategic gateway to the Levant region and the wider Middle East. The terminal is ideally-located to access the Iraq market and the wider Levant region, offering shippers expanded opportunities to participate in the rebuilding of Iraq and accessing the Levant region. The ADC-APMT joint venture is a true success story in terms of Public Private Partnerships (PPPs), which is ADC's goal to develop on behalf of the Jordanian government Aqaba's infrastructure."
Michel Rollet, Projects & Contracts Manager of Soletanche Bachy, the main contractor for the berth expansion, said "The ACT project represents one of our major projects that will benefit from our global best practices and ability to deliver projects on schedule.
During this past year, port investments have included, in addition to the STS cranes, six newly delivered Rubber-Tire Gantry Cranes (RTGs), 100 additional refrigerated plugs, and the refurbishment and upgrading of the existing port facilities. Continued growth in containerized cargo trade is forecast for Jordan, with the continued development of logistics facilities in the Aqaba Special Economic Zone (ASEZ), and the ongoing transition to containerization of the regional commodities trade in rice and sugar.
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About Aqaba Container Terminal
ACT is a joint venture between Aqaba Development Corporation (ADC) which is the Jordanian Government's central development vehicle for the Aqaba Special Economic Zone (ASEZ) and APM Terminals - one of the world's leading container terminal operators.
After signing a Terminal Management Contract with ADC in 2004, APM Terminals took over the management and operation of the terminal. A further 25-year Joint Development Agreement (JDA) was signed between ADC and the ACT in 2006.
The joint venture represents the first Public Private Partnership (PPP) initiative launched by ADC as part of its program to rehabilitate and expand port terminals of Aqaba and wider logistics and transport infrastructure within ASEZ.
www.act.com.jo
www.apmterminals.com/africa-mideast-india/aqaba/
www.adc.jo
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About APM Terminals
APM Terminals operates a Global Terminal Network of 49 ports strategically located in 32 countries that provides the port infrastructure essential to international transportation and the global economy.
The company works closely with the trade community to reduce costs, deliver operational excellence and improve market access worldwide. APM Terminals works closely with governments too. Every nation of the world wants access to a competitive port system to ensure their national and regional market competitiveness.
For logistics professionals, the Global Terminal Network plays an important role in supply chain management with location, capacity, flexibility and efficiency clearly linked to supply chain success (port centric logistics).
Media can download more information at www.apmterminals.com
About ADC
The Aqaba Development Corporation (ADC) was launched at the beginning of 2004 by the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA) and the Government of Jordan, with the mandate to own and maintain the development and management rights for the strategic assets in the Aqaba Special Economic Zone (ASEZ) including the Aqaba ports, both, air and sea, along with strategic parcels of lands and rights to public utilities within ASEZ, making it the development partner for all investors interested in taking advantage of the endless opportunities that ASEZ has to offer. ADC also has the responsibility to implement the ASEZ Master Plan in a manner that ensures integrated development and transforms Aqaba into a leading business, logistics and leisure hub on the Red Sea, all through maximizing public-private sector partnership and investment.
www.adc.jo
ASEZ was launched in 2001 with the objective of creating Aqaba as an oasis for commerce, a premium destination for tourism, an incubator for modern technology and a regional hub for transport logistics. ASEZ is regulated by ASEZA, which is responsible for managing, regulating and providing municipal services within ASEZ.
www.aqabazone.com
About Soletanche Bachy
Soletanche Bachy is a contractor specializing in geotechnical and civil engineering. The company serves a wide range of clients in the public and private sectors, developing comprehensive main contracting skills in large infrastructure projects including the complete range of geotechnical processes, special foundations, underground works, ground improvement and pollution treatment and control.
The company's Research & Development policy has been awarded 15 prizes for Innovation by the French Fédération Nationale des Travaux Publics. The company employs 9,800 permanent staff of more than 60 nationalities along with a global network of more than 1,200 engineers and managers.
For more information, please contact:
Klaus Holm Laursen
Chief Executive Officer
Aqaba Container Terminal
Aqaba, Jordan
Tel +962 3 209 1201
Email: KlausLaursen@ACT.COM.JO
Mr. Nabil Khoury
Senior Specialist
PR & Media Relations Aqaba Development Corporation
P. O. Box 2680 Aqaba 77110 Jordan
Tel: +962 3 203 9100
Fax: +962 3 203 9113
Email: nkhoury@adc.jo
Tom Boyd
Director, External Communications
APM Terminals
The Hague, The Netherlands
Tel +31-70-304-2181
Email: Thomas.H.Boyd@apmterminals.com
© Press Release 2009
