With a quay depth of 18 metres, Khalifa Port is now one of the few hubs in the region able to accommodate the world’s largest container ships 

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates: CSP Abu Dhabi Terminal, a container terminal built and operated by China's COSCO SHIPPING Ports Limited (CSP) at Khalifa Port in partnership with Abu Dhabi Ports, has received two of the world’s largest mega-vessels within less than a month - cementing Abu Dhabi’s position as a global maritime hub.

The ships – MV. COSCO SHIPPING SOLAR and PISCES – are the third and fourth main line vessels to pass through CSP Abu Dhabi Terminal since it started trial operations in 20 April 2019. They follow the arrival of MV. CSCL Mercury, a Chinese container ship with a capacity of 14,000 TEU, on 20 April 2019, and MV. CSCL Globe, which arrived on 27 April 2019 with a capacity of 19,000 TEU.

With a capacity of 21,000 TEU, SOLAR, which arrived on May 25, is the largest ship ever to call at Khalifa Port. The PISCES, which called on May 5, held the same accolade for just under three weeks with its capacity of 20,000 TEUS. The arrival of the ships , which started their journeys from Qingdao in China, highlights Abu Dhabi’s position as a major trade hub along China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, CEO of Abu Dhabi Ports, said: “The arrival of both the MV. COSCO SHIPPING SOLAR and PISCES is a milestone moment for Abu Dhabi Ports and its partner, CSP. Not only does it demonstrate our growth as a hub port in the region, but also our position as the heart of COSCO’s network in the Middle East.

“The container industry is constantly looking for ways to improve efficiency, and the use of mega-vessels to cut costs and time is a trend shaping the future of the sector. We have ensured that through CSP Abu Dhabi Terminal, Khalifa Port is able to handle the largest vessels of today and adapt to those of tomorrow.”

Captain Ju Weiping, CEO of CSP Abu Dhabi Terminal, said: “We are excited to facilitate the arrival of two of the world’s largest mega-vessels at CSP Abu Dhabi Terminal as it demonstrates the strength of our partnership with Abu Dhabi Ports. The terminal has been built to accommodate the evolution of trade in an increasingly competitive global economy; applying the latest port technologies to improve efficiencies, reduce calling times, and ultimately deliver a competitive edge to our customers. We are proud to contribute to facilitating trade in the region and look forward to welcoming further large-scale vessels over the coming years.”

Abu Dhabi Ports is the operator and manager of the Emirate's commercial and community ports, as well as Khalifa Industrial Zone (KIZAD). The CSP Abu Dhabi Terminal, which was inaugurated in December, connects Khalifa Port to CSP’s global terminal portfolio covering 285 berths at 37 ports worldwide.

The deep-water, semi-automated container terminal includes the largest Container Freight Station (CFS) in the Middle East, covering 275,000 square metres. The state-of-the-art facility offers facilities for full and partial bonded container shipments, the full range of container packing services, short-term warehousing for de-consolidated cargo as well as easy connectivity with container terminals in Khalifa Port. The terminal is also the first international greenfield subsidiary of COSCO SHIPPING Ports,  whose ultimate parent company, China COSCO Shipping Corporation Limited, is the largest integrated shipping enterprise in the world.

The CSP Abu Dhabi Terminal has a design capacity of 2.5 million TEU, with 1200 metres of quay. The water depth of the terminal is 18 metres, allowing it to accommodate mega-vessels typically carrying in excess of 20,000 TEU. CSP has invested AED1.1 billion in capital expenditure on construction and machinery at the terminal.

CSP Abu Dhabi Terminal is the result of a 35-year agreement between Abu Dhabi Ports and COSCO SHIPPING Ports, and forms part of a five-year strategy by Abu Dhabi Ports aimed at strengthening the maritime sector in the Emirate and driving economic diversification. The strategy, in line with Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030, aims to increase regional trade and attract foreign direct investment. Abu Dhabi Ports has earmarked AED10 billion in investment that will increase capacity at Khalifa Port from the current 5 million TEU to 9.1 million TEU, which also includes boosting capacity at Terminal 1 to more than 5 million TEU.

About Abu Dhabi Ports

Established in 2006, Abu Dhabi Ports is the master developer, operator and manager of commercial and community ports within the emirate of Abu Dhabi, in addition to the Port of Fujairah. It is also the owner of trade and logistics hub Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi (KIZAD), in which Khalifa Port Free Trade Zone attracts direct investments to over 100 km2 of free zone opportunities, the largest in the Middle East region.

Inaugurated on Dec 12, 2012 by President of the UAE, HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Khalifa Port is the flagship port of Abu Dhabi Ports and is considered to be the first semi-automated container port in the region. Abu Dhabi Ports also owns 50% of Abu Dhabi Terminals, which operates and manages Khalifa Port Container Terminal with a full suite of logistics solutions to benefit trade partners and shipping lines. In addition to the current capacity of 2.5 million TEUs, the recent deal Abu Dhabi Ports signed with COSCO SHIPPING Ports Limited, which commenced operations at CSP Abu Dhabi Terminal in 2019, will raise the annual capacity to 9.1 million TEUs in both container terminals.

Abu Dhabi Ports’ subsidiaries include Abu Dhabi Marine Services “SAFEEN”, providing a comprehensive range of marine, navigational and ancillary quayside services as well as VTS Services and fleet maintenance in a safe, secure and efficient manner; Maqta Gateway, developer and operator of the first port community in the emirate; and Abu Dhabi Cruise Terminal, the first permanent cruise terminal in the region. To meet the increasing demand of cruise liners and passengers, Sir Bani Yas Cruise Beach was developed, offering cruise ship passengers a new beach destination with unmatched tourism experiences. Additionally, Abu Dhabi Ports also manages the Maritime Training Centre at Musaffah Port.

Follow us on Twitter: @AbuDhabiPorts

For more information, contact:
media@adports.ae 

© Press Release 2019

Disclaimer: The contents of this press release was provided from an external third party provider. This website is not responsible for, and does not control, such external content. This content is provided on an “as is” and “as available” basis and has not been edited in any way. Neither this website nor our affiliates guarantee the accuracy of or endorse the views or opinions expressed in this press release.

The press release is provided for informational purposes only. The content does not provide tax, legal or investment advice or opinion regarding the suitability, value or profitability of any particular security, portfolio or investment strategy. Neither this website nor our affiliates shall be liable for any errors or inaccuracies in the content, or for any actions taken by you in reliance thereon. You expressly agree that your use of the information within this article is at your sole risk.

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, this website, its parent company, its subsidiaries, its affiliates and the respective shareholders, directors, officers, employees, agents, advertisers, content providers and licensors will not be liable (jointly or severally) to you for any direct, indirect, consequential, special, incidental, punitive or exemplary damages, including without limitation, lost profits, lost savings and lost revenues, whether in negligence, tort, contract or any other theory of liability, even if the parties have been advised of the possibility or could have foreseen any such damages.