Abu Dhabi Ports, the master developer of Khalifa Port and Kizad will add 1000 metres of quay wall to the port and deepen its main channel and basin to 18 metres from the current 16 metres. The new quay wall will add an additional 600,000 sqm for cargo handling.
The current Khalifa Port island is used for RoRo traffic by Abu Dhabi Ports while containers are handled by Abu Dhabi Terminals. These measures will ensure that Abu Dhabi Terminals can accommodate the anticipated growth of the container trade in the UAE. In 2015, ADT handled 32% more containers and moved 1,504,293 TEUs (twenty foot equivalent units/containers) and Abu Dhabi’s main container port operator is expecting 3 more quay / gantry cranes at the end of 2016.
This will also increase the competiveness of the Emirate as a logistics and maritime hub while also serving key industries across the UAE. For its customer base in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and other industrial zones in the UAE, this means is on track to meet the expected growth of the local and regional industry.
A first step in delivering this plan has been the signing of a contract by Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, CEO of Abu Dhabi Ports with the National Marine Dredging Company (NMDC) which will start preparatory work on dredging the channels and using this material to build up the new 1000-meter-long quay wall and the adjacent yard behind it. 250 workers will be involved in the awarded expansion project of Khalifa Port which is scheduled for completion in mid-2018.