Gulftainer's Khorfakkan Container Terminal (KCT) has shown an increase in volumes during the first half of 2008 of around 20% compared with the same period in 2007 - and continues to achieve a level of operating performance which is the envy of other worldwide terminals. As everyone in the world is now aware, the pace of the change in the Gulf region, particularly in the UAE, is moving at startling speed and nowhere is this more apparent than in the Transport and Logistics industry.
By their very nature, those industries that make up the components of the supply chain - shipping, trucking & terminals for example - have to continually re-engineer, re-invest and improve their service and performance to cater to growing volumes and increasingly stringent customer demands.
Fortunately, Gulftainer fully supported as always by the Government of Sharjah, have for some years been anticipating the Terminal enhancements at Khorfakkan that bigger - much bigger - container ships, greater throughputs and infrastructure under pressure in the UAE would require.
The first phase of Terminal expansion was completed in mid 2006 and the latest berth development - another 400 metres - will be complete by the end of 2008 with orders for new ship to shore Super Post Panamax gantries to be confirmed soon.
And all this development work is essential if Sharjah is to avoid the costly delays and congestion affecting many other regions worldwide.
Gulftainer Director & General Manager Peter Richards commented:
'We were always confident that the far sighted decisions of HH Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Mohamed Al Qassimi the ruler of Sharjah, not only to develop KCT in the first place, but also to continue to support the expansion of the facility ahead of anticipated demand, would be shown to be absolutely correct. Now, in a world where bigger ships and bigger costs have inevitably made customers look increasingly at the Khorfakkan option - this confidence has been shown to be well merited. With its world class performance and superb geographical position allowing the terminal to serve the UAE (via Sharjah ICD) and the wider region - we are more certain than ever that KCT will be setting many more records in future.'
By their very nature, those industries that make up the components of the supply chain - shipping, trucking & terminals for example - have to continually re-engineer, re-invest and improve their service and performance to cater to growing volumes and increasingly stringent customer demands.
Fortunately, Gulftainer fully supported as always by the Government of Sharjah, have for some years been anticipating the Terminal enhancements at Khorfakkan that bigger - much bigger - container ships, greater throughputs and infrastructure under pressure in the UAE would require.
The first phase of Terminal expansion was completed in mid 2006 and the latest berth development - another 400 metres - will be complete by the end of 2008 with orders for new ship to shore Super Post Panamax gantries to be confirmed soon.
And all this development work is essential if Sharjah is to avoid the costly delays and congestion affecting many other regions worldwide.
Gulftainer Director & General Manager Peter Richards commented:
'We were always confident that the far sighted decisions of HH Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Mohamed Al Qassimi the ruler of Sharjah, not only to develop KCT in the first place, but also to continue to support the expansion of the facility ahead of anticipated demand, would be shown to be absolutely correct. Now, in a world where bigger ships and bigger costs have inevitably made customers look increasingly at the Khorfakkan option - this confidence has been shown to be well merited. With its world class performance and superb geographical position allowing the terminal to serve the UAE (via Sharjah ICD) and the wider region - we are more certain than ever that KCT will be setting many more records in future.'