By Mohammad Shoeb
DOHA: Despite a challenging business environment and market volatility, Doha Port saw about 15 percent rise in container volumes in 2015 with the total volume reaching 530,042 TEUs compared to 461,863 TEUs in 2014.
In terms of volumes, the container shipping unit handled a total of 568,166 TEUs in 2015, an increase of 22 percent over 2014 with the new India-Qatar NDX service contributing to 7 percent of the overall volume. When it comes to handling of Bulk/Break Bulk and General Cargo, the year 2015 saw a sharp jump of over 140 percent, the total reaching about 1.76 million freight tonnes against 731,045 tonnes in 2014.
The car carrier freight tonnes in 2015 also increased to 2.71 million, up 9 percent compared to 2.48 million tonnes in 2014, according to the latest data released by Qatar Navigation (Milaha) in its Annual Report 2015.
“The year 2015 was exceptional for the Port Services unit. Container volumes and general cargo volumes increased by 15 percent and 127 percent, respectively, compared to 2014. The main driver for the significant increase in overall volumes was continued government spending on infrastructure and critical long- term projects,” said the report.
Milaha’s Port Services business unit manages the Doha Port, the main commercial port in Qatar, on behalf of Qatar Ports Management Company (Mwani).
It is the main commercial port in Qatar that handles most types of cargo (with the exception of liquid bulk). Some of the major types of cargo handled though the port include fast-moving consumable goods, food, meat, livestock, cars, machinery and equipment. There is an exhaustive list of items sourced from different parts of the world.
When most items imported in the country have witnessed a rise due to the growing population, the number of livestock heads handled (largely sheep and goat imported from overseas) through the port during 2015 declined to 560,487, down by about 7 percent from 603,065 in 2014.
Milaha Port Services assumed operational and management control of Doha Port in February 2011, and has created a one-stop shop employing advanced technology and stream-lined procedures to improve the cargo clearance process, including customs, environmental and health activities.
A sophisticated short- and long-term berth planning system has also been implemented resulting in minimal waiting time, if at all, for vessels in the anchorage area.
The company is committed to increasing Doha Port’s annual container throughput capacity to a minimum of 750,000 TEUs through improved operational processes and yard strategy.
“The Board of Directors (of Milaha) continued to invest for long terms in the company’s core maritime shipping activities.
“In the first quarter of 2015, Milaha Maritimes & Logistics, which delivers integrated transport and supply chain solutions, launched the first direct container liner service between Qatar and India,” Ali bin Jassim bin Mohammad Al Thani, Chairman, Milaha, told a recent annual general meeting of the company.
“The non-stop service connects Doha Port with Nhava Sheva (Mumbai), India’s largest container port. The launch was in response to the remarkable growth in trade between the two countries in recent years,” he added.
The Peninsula
