Captain Ahmed Yousuf Mohammed Al Mass of Qatar Ports Management Company giving a presentation at the TRANS4 conference at Doha Exhibition Center yesterday. Shaival Dalal
By Satish Kanady
DOHA: Ports across the GCC region will work in tandem to handle the huge pressure expected from the heavy volume of shipments during the next few years. These ports will work in harmony to ease the strain to be emerged from the projected $3 trillion worth development works in the Middle East, industry leaders said here yesterday.
For a better integration of the cargo movements within the GCC waters, the Gulf countries are also planning to set up a common Navigation Maintenance Hub. The contract for this project is expected to be signed in the coming months.
GCC countries are to see a huge volume of cargo movements in the coming years. Qatar’s Fifa-related projects and Dubai’s win of hosting the 2020 World Expo will build enormous pressure on the ports and terminals in the region.
The level of spending in the manufacturing is very high, top industrial leaders noted while attending a panel discussion at the TRANS4 conference here yesterday.
Ports across the Middle East are expected to witness a huge increase in cargo handling. From a 10m TEU in 2000, it is projected to increase to 43m TEU by 2015, an increase of 300 percent, they noted. Captain Ahmed Yousuf Mohammed Al Mass of Qatar Ports Management Company (QPMC) said there will be regular coordination meetings between the port authorities.
Since most of the cargoes to Qatar are from UAE, Qatar will have a better cooperation with ports in the Emirates. Qatar will bolster its coordination with other GCC ports as well.
“In view of the GCC countries’ projected development works, the ports across the region must have a better integrated operation mechanism. It will help ease the pressures at key ports. A unified Customs Law is a precursor to it,” he noted
Captain Ahmed said the imported consignments cannot be stored for unlimited period, due to shortage of space. QPMC has requested the Authorities to bring down the ‘storing period’ from the existing 10 days to six to five days.
Mohammed Ahmed Al Mohannadi, Director, Maritime Customs, Qatar, noted Qatar has initiated effective steps to bring down the clearing time in a substantial way. Earlier, the ports took at least three days for the customs clearance. It has been reduced to 50 minutes now. He held the importers mainly responsible for the delay in customs clearance.
“The shipment clearance can be done without delay if the importers produce the relevant documents on time,” he said.
Karel Peters, CEO, Royal Burger Group, said port development is very vital for Qatar. Entrepreneurs are already exploring the investment potential of the ferry between Dubai and Doha.
Middle East has huge growth potential in the shipping industry. The region’s trade pattern is fast changing. By 2035, 90 percent of Middle East oil and gas exports will go to Asia.
The tanker market is changing in favour of product tankers. Middle East market, including Qatar, is going to make huge advantage out of it.
The Peninsula
