Bank Byblos' "Lebanon this week" reported that the Beirut Port Authority announced plans to expand the containers' terminal due to the rapid growth in the number of containers coming through the facility and to a lack of space and storage. The project is expected to cover a 125,000-square-meter backfill area and 600-meter extension of a wharf so that the container terminal could handle 1.2 million TEUs. Container traffic increased by 62% in 2007, reaching 948,000 Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs), compared to 595,000 TEUs in 2006, while the maximum yearly capacity of the port is 500,000 TEUs. The transshipment contracts that the port signed in 2005 and 2006 with two of the world's biggest shipping lines, the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) and CMA-CGM, contributed to the increase in activity. The number of containers re-directed from Beirut to other ports grew by 560% over the past two years, increasing from 76,250 in 2005 to 502,996 in 2007.
The port already underwent reconstruction and expansion works in 2005, with the aim of creating four docks, two new wharfs and a new container terminal for 700,000 units. The Beirut Port Authority retained German consultant Sellhorn to conduct the studies related to the expansion.
The port already underwent reconstruction and expansion works in 2005, with the aim of creating four docks, two new wharfs and a new container terminal for 700,000 units. The Beirut Port Authority retained German consultant Sellhorn to conduct the studies related to the expansion.