Sharjah, 4 July 2010: UAE-based port operator, Gulftainer, has reported that its terminals in Sharjah (SCT) and Khorfakkan (KCT) are continuing to perform well following creditable and remarkable increases in volume in 2009, despite the global economic downturn.

According to the port operator, its terminals are increasingly becoming the 'sensible choices' for many consignees and shippers - not only in Sharjah, but in the Northern Emirates and Dubai too.

Reacting to this buoyancy, the world's largest shipping line, Maersk, has scheduled its East Africa/Gulf service, Masiika Express, to call at SCT weekly. This gives SCT a regular, direct weekly call to and from the East African ports of Dar es Salaam and Mombasa, providing even more options for the substantial numbers of African exporters and importers in the region.

Paul Hennessy, Gulftainer's SCT Terminal Manager, was delighted to welcome the 2500 teu/27,000 GRT ER LUBECK last week. "We have had a long and cordial relationship with Maersk, and their partner Safmarine, at SCT. Therefore, it is particularly pleasing to welcome the new Masiika Express service as it reflects the confidence they have both in us and the volumes of business moving to and from East Africa," he said.

"Sharjah is already a major centre for trade to and from Africa, and this additional service through the SCT gateway provides another step forward for Gulftainer in a year that is already proving to be stronger than 2009."

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Gulftainer Company Limited was established in 1976 in the Emirate of Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates. The company's prime role is to manage and operate the container terminals in Port Khalid and also Khorfakkan on behalf of Sharjah Port Authority.

Complimenting this work, Gulftainer also owns one of the largest heavy transport fleets in the United Arab Emirates, a container repair company, a shipping agency which undertakes local ship/cargo agency work and actively pursues international port management opportunities.

As part of a broad based, privately owned group, Gulftainer Co. Ltd. is able to meet all the requirements of shipping lines in the UAE and also serve the transport needs of UAE based traders and manufacturers. Whilst the company has grown over the years, the management firmly believes in hands-on-control. The lines of communication are deliberately kept short to speed up decision making and maintain momentum.

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© Press Release 2010