Construction to start on Jeddah terminal

News was prepared under the information support of Online Daily Newspaper on Hellenic and international Shipping "Hellenic Shipping News".

30 Nov 2007

Construction on the Saudi Trade & Export Development Company (Tusdeer)'s $443 million Red Sea Gateway Terminal at the Saudi port of Jeddah is due to begin January 2008. The development, planned to enable handling of the new generation of larger ships, will be Saudi Arabia's first private build-operate-transfer container terminal project.  The new facilities are set to increase Jeddah Port's container handling capacity by more than 45%. Construction work will be undertaken by the China Harbour Engineering Company Ltd and is slated for completion within 22 months. During this time, a new quay wall will be constructed, along with the dredging of a new 16.5 metre approach channel and other related infrastructure work. The Shanghai Zhenhua Port Machinery has also been contracted to furnish the new terminal with handling equipment including eight twin-lift ship-to-shore cranes and 26 RTGs (rubber tyred gantries) with double-lift capability. The new container terminal will have two 18 metre draft berths that can handle up to 1.5 million TEUs per year. Officials expect the two berths to be operational by late 2009. Reports say that officials want the port to raise its significance as a regional logistics hub by integrating with the Tusdeer Bonded Re-export Zone and linking to the 'Land Bridge' which is Saudi Arabia's new intermodal connection.