UAE: Jebel Ali New Terminal Receives First Cranes

The first four of 50 Rail Mounted Gantry (RMG) cranes bound for DP World’s new Container Terminal 3 have arrived at Jebel Ali Port.

Another four Ship To Shore (STS) quay cranes are expected in the next three weeks having already sailed from the yards of Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries Company (ZPMC) in China.

The 4 million TEU (twenty-foot equivalent unit) capacity Terminal, due to open in 2014, has 19 quay cranes on order to be installed alongside a 1,860 metre long and 17 metre deep quayside that can handle 4 of the next generation of the world’s largest container vessels simultaneously.

The 70 hectares yard terminal will increase the total capacity at Jebel Ali Port to 19 million TEU with the ability to handle ten of the ultra large container ships (ULCS) at the same time.

The 600 ton RMG’s are nearly 50 metres wide and 32 metres high. They can lift single and twin TEU containers up to 50 tons from the trucks into a stack area of 10 containers wide and 6 containers high. Each RMG is able to cover a stack length of up to 1200 metres.

Mohammed Al Muallem, Senior Vice President and Managing Director, DP World, UAE Region, said:

“As our customers are ordering larger vessels, they are looking at high efficiency hub ports which is Jebel Ali’s strength. Our new container terminal will further strengthen our position as the most efficient and modern gateway for cargo in the Middle East and wider region and enhance Jebel Ali’s role as an economic driver. DP World is committed to ensure that we are well placed to cater for future growth in the UAE and GCC.”.

Mohammed Ali Ahmed, Chief Operations Officer, DP World, UAE Region, said:

“A world-class deep-sea container terminal requires world-class cranes and skilled people to operate them. This is the lynchpin of our operations, and efficiency is becoming ever more important. Deeper drafts, wider channels and longer berths, are key but on their own are not enough to handle bigger ships. Hundreds of well trained staff will operate and maintain the cranes which are among the biggest, most modern and efficient in the world.”

In the first half of this year, an additional 1 million TEU capacity was added to Container Terminal 2 (T2) at Jebel Ali Port increasing current capacity to 15 million TEU.

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Press Release, November 26, 2013