Owing to timely-formulated State’s policies and dedication of authorities concerned, Hamad Port is fast becoming a regional hub of trade with a potential to outclass its regional competitors in the days to come. Since its official inauguration on September 5 last year, Hamad Port is witnessing an upward trend in marine traffic as well as handling of goods containers.
Since its official inauguration in September 2017, Hamad Port, entailing investment of QR27.5bn, has played a key role in breaking the impact of the siege imposed against Qatar by ensuring normal supply of goods to the country.
Spreading over 28.5 square kilometres, Hamad Port’s basin is 4km long, 700 metres wide and 17 metres deep — specifications that enable it to receive the world’s biggest ships.
The capacity of Hamad Port is to reach 7.5 million TEU annually on completion of all construction phases. It has a general cargo terminal with a capacity of 1.7 million tonnes annually, a terminal for cereals with a capacity of one million tonnes annually, a terminal to receive vehicles with an annual capacity of 500,000, a terminal for livestock, a terminal for coastguard vessels and a terminal for marine support and backup.
According to recent data released by Mwani, Hamad Port witnessed a 30 percent rise in the handling of goods containers in July 2018. The port handled 122,827 Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) containers last month while the port had handled 94,911 TEUs containers in June 2018.
The strong momentum was also seen in vehicle movement. The port, which has a capacity to receive 500,000 vehicle per year, witnessed around 20 percent rise in the handling of vehicles. A total of 5,643 vehicles were handled last month compared to 4,708 vehicles handled by the port in June 2018.
Last month, 133 commercial vessels called at Hamad Port which is one of the largest multi-purpose ports in the region.
As part of Qatar’s major steps toward increasing its non-petroleum exports and building manufacturing industries, a free zone has been established adjacent to Hamad Port.
Since commencing operations in December 2016, Hamad Port has modernise the way Qatar handles imports and exports and has helped in facilitating the growth and diversification of the country’s economy. Within a short period of time, the port has reached a global port connectivity coverage with 40 ports spanning over three continents.
The port has seen tremendous growth in a short duration and is further cementing Qatar’s position as a regional maritime hub.
