DP World chairman Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem announced on Tuesday the start of construction work on a new $1.6 billion container terminal at Jebel Ali Port, Dubai.
Phase 1 of the Container Terminal 4 (T4) project will deliver new capacity of 3.1 million TEU (twenty-foot equivalent units) by 2018, taking Jebel Ali Port’s total capacity to 22.1 million TEU.
The port complex will be equipped with at least 110 cranes with a total quay length of around 11,000 metres by that time.
T4 will be located on a reclaimed island north of the existing Terminal 2 allowing DP World to further expand capacity to a total of 7.8 million TEU in line with market demand. As part of the project, a bridge is being built to provide access to the island from land near Terminal 2. Work is scheduled to get the 3,000 metre causeway and bridge partially open to traffic before the end of 2015.
Bin Sulayem said: “Given the strong economic outlook, both domestically and regionally, including the lead up to Dubai Expo 2020, we are delighted to announce the construction of Terminal 4, which will deliver new capacity of 3.1 million TEU in Phase 1.
“The new capacity is a response to feedback from customers expressing the need for more capacity at Jebel Ali due to an expected increase in trade in the run up to Expo 2020. Shipping lines will be able to bring more of the world’s largest vessels to our terminals so helping improve the efficiency of the region’s supply chain.”
Jebel Ali and other DP World terminals in the UAE handled 7.9 million TEU in the first half of 2015, representing a growth of 6 percent compared to the first half of 2014.
He added:”Jebel Ali continues to respond to market demand as we have in the past. Despite the addition of 2 million TEUs capacity in Terminal 3 scheduled in the second half 2015, the port still experiences high levels of utilisation.
“With Jebel Ali’s total capacity set to reach 22.1 million TEU in 2018, we are ensuring our flagship asset in Dubai continues to have sufficient capacity to serve the future growth demand of the UAE and the wider region.”
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