BERTH 27, part of the new terminal development programme at Basra Gateway Terminal (BGT) at the port of Umm Qasr in Iraq, reached a new milestone at the end of August by servicing its largest vessel to date, Evergreen's 5,652-TEU capacity Ever Useful that operates an Asia-Middle East service.
BGT, a part of the ICTSI group, handled a 4,500-TEU ship during the call and achieved a net move rate of 50 moves per hour with a two-quay crane operation.
BGT chief executive officer Phillip Marsham said: 'BGT's investment programme is designed to match the requirements of a growing Iraqi economy and the need to accommodate ever larger liner vessels.
'The call of the Ever Useful shows how far Umm Qasr has come in improving port infrastructure to meet today's global logistic chain requirements. It also clearly demonstrates the growing confidence of container lines in the economy of Iraq and the associated container trade growth,' said Mr Marsham.
'ICTSI is pleased to take a leading role in investing in Iraq's port infrastructure, enabling the country to connect most efficiently with global liner services. The ability to serve direct calls from large vessels has reduced cost and cargo transit times and brings other key benefits to cargo importers,' said ICTSI vice president Hans-Ole Madsen.
Upon completion in 2019 the new terminal complex will feature a total berth length of 600 metres, maximum draught of 14 metres alongside and terminal area of 30 hectares. The facility will raise BGT's annual handling capacity to one million TEU.
Supporting equipment acquisitions include the installation of three super post-Panamax quay cranes and seven additional rubber-tired gantries to optimise the landside handling operations. The overall terminal design enables the handling of vessels of up to 9,000 TEU in capacity.
BGT, a part of the ICTSI group, handled a 4,500-TEU ship during the call and achieved a net move rate of 50 moves per hour with a two-quay crane operation.
BGT chief executive officer Phillip Marsham said: 'BGT's investment programme is designed to match the requirements of a growing Iraqi economy and the need to accommodate ever larger liner vessels.
'The call of the Ever Useful shows how far Umm Qasr has come in improving port infrastructure to meet today's global logistic chain requirements. It also clearly demonstrates the growing confidence of container lines in the economy of Iraq and the associated container trade growth,' said Mr Marsham.
'ICTSI is pleased to take a leading role in investing in Iraq's port infrastructure, enabling the country to connect most efficiently with global liner services. The ability to serve direct calls from large vessels has reduced cost and cargo transit times and brings other key benefits to cargo importers,' said ICTSI vice president Hans-Ole Madsen.
Upon completion in 2019 the new terminal complex will feature a total berth length of 600 metres, maximum draught of 14 metres alongside and terminal area of 30 hectares. The facility will raise BGT's annual handling capacity to one million TEU.
Supporting equipment acquisitions include the installation of three super post-Panamax quay cranes and seven additional rubber-tired gantries to optimise the landside handling operations. The overall terminal design enables the handling of vessels of up to 9,000 TEU in capacity.