zoomImage Courtesy: Abu Dhabi Ports

Port developer and operator Abu Dhabi Ports, set a new annual cargo-volume record in 2015, posting a 32% surge in container volumes alone at its Khalifa Port Container Terminal.

The terminal, operated by Abu Dhabi Terminals – a subsidiary of Abu Dhabi Ports, moved 1.5 million TEUs, up from 1.1 million TEUs in 2014.

Roll-on-roll-off (RORO) traffic had 27 per cent upturn with 134,272 vehicles, up from 106,071 vehicles recorded in the previous year. All RORO operations were transferred to Khalifa Port from Zayed Port in 2015 to meet the rising demand.

“Better yard and terminal facilities, and services at Khalifa Port have contributed to the upsurge in volumes,” said Abu Dhabi Ports.

General and bulk cargo saw 20 per cent upswing to 15.3 million freight tonnes (FT) from 12.8 million FT in 2014. The port operator said that the surge in general and bulk cargo volumes across Abu Dhabi Ports indicates rising import and export activities related to industrial and infrastructure development projects in the Emirate.

Abu Dhabi’s cruise industry witnessed 16 per cent growth with 170,360 cruise passengers visiting the Emirate in 2015, up from 146,997 cruisers from the previous year. The newly opened Abu Dhabi Cruise Terminal at Zayed Port is expected to further catalyse this growth.

At Khalifa Industrial Zone (Kizad), Abu Dhabi Ports saw a total of 21 Standard Musataha Agreements (SMAs) signed in 2015 with national and international investors, and three plot-extension SMAs with existing investors. These projects represent over 1.3 million square metres of land leased in 2015.

Memoranda of understanding (MOUs) were signed with Industrial Development Bureau (IDB) of Abu Dhabi’s Department of Economic Development (DED), and SACE Group–Italian Export Credit Agency, to further attract investments into the integrated trade and industrial hub of Abu Dhabi.

Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, CEO of Abu Dhabi Ports, attributed Abu Dhabi Ports’ success to the ongoing investments in equipment, technology and workforce capabilities.

In addition, the company is investing in redevelopment of three other ports in the region – Mugharrag Port, Delma Port and Sir Bani Yas – and their upgrades are expected to complete by 2017.