Khalifa Port commences commercial operations on schedule in support of Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030.
Khalifa Port formally received its first ship from a commercial customer on target time set in the original 100 steps construction plan. The ship was the MSC Bari, one of the largest and newest container ships in the world. MSC Bari is 366 metres long, 51 metres wide, has a gross tonnage of over 153,000 tons and is capable of transporting 14,000 containers. It loaded and unloaded containers from the container yard.
Khalifa Port is designed to be rolled out in phases should market demand require it. For example, the technology and infrastructure is highly flexible, creating economies of scale which will reduce the cost should there be demand for future expansion.
With an eye to the future the port has been dredged to be deeper than needed in order to accommodate ever larger ships. Its ship to shore cranes are among the largest in the world and have been built not only to be able to unload today's largest container ships, but to be able to handle even larger vessels when the time comes.
Khalifa Port’s container terminal will be operated by Abu Dhabi Terminals (ADT). Commenting as he took over the running of the container terminal from ADPC, Martijn Van de Linde, Chief Executive Officer, ADT said: “In Khalifa Port ADPC has created an immensely powerful engine that will be at the heart of Abu Dhabi’s economic growth and diversification for many years into the future.