Doha: Despite challenging situations created by the Covid-19 outbreak, Hamad Port – Qatar’s gateway to world trade – has wrapped up a successful year. The Port has registered an increase in vessels’ arrival and cargo handling in 2020 which indicates port’s growing importance in regional trade.
Hamad Port, in 2020, handled over 1.4 million Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) containers and received 1,600 vessels.
According to figures released by QTerminals, terminal operating company providing services at Hamad Port, on its Twitter handle, the Port handled 1.4 million Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units containers; 304, 481 tonnes of bulk cargo; 1,196,559 tonnes of general cargo; 59,443 vehicles; and 264,164 heads of livestock last year.
In 2019, Hamad Port had received 1,545 vessels while it had handled over 1.3 million TEUs containers; 182,669 tonnes of bulk cargo; 625,532 tonnes of general cargo; 76,501 vehicles; and 374,395 heads of livestock. Hamad Port handled around seven percent more TEU containers in 2020 when compared to the previous year (2019).
In another tweet, QTerminals also released figures of cargo handling at Hamad Port in December 2020.
According to data, the port received 147 vessels last month. Hamad Port, in December 2020, handled 146,429 TEUs containers; 52,500 tonnes of bulk cargo; 172,690 tonnes of general cargo; 3,493 vehicles; and 23,059 heads of livestock.
With every passing month and year, Hamad Port’s handling of movement of vessels and cargo is increasing and the port is expanding its container terminal base.
Recently on December 22 last year, Prime Minister and Minister of Interior H E Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani made a visit to Hamad Port, during which he inaugurated the initial operation of Hamad Port’s Container Terminal 2, which is equipped with the latest environment-friendly technological equipment to meet the needs and requirements of shipping line operators and would increase the port’s capacity by about three million containers per year.
CT2 development project consists of four phases. Full operation of Phases 1 & 2 will start before the end of 2022. Phases 3 & 4 will be developed later to raise the port’s operational capacity according to local market’s needs, said an earlier statement of the Ministry of Transport and Communications.
Phase 1 of CT2 has been equipped with 3 STS quay cranes with advanced technology, including semi-automation and remote-control operations.
STS cranes are known for being so fast and highly efficient in handling containers and capable of handling latest types of vessels. Each crane can handle four 20’ containers or two 40’ containers at the same time. Four more cranes will be added during 2021, taking the total number of cranes to seven.
CT2 has been also equipped with 12 RTGs and 14 more will be added during 2021, taking the total to 26. RTGs are used for handling containers on the landside. RTGs are of battery hybrid type.
This technology reduces the environmental impact of RTG operations by reducing fuel consumption. Further, when a container/load is lowered, there is a spike of generated power which results in a rapid charge event of the batteries.
In November last year, QTerminals achieved a milestone by reaching three million man-hours without any Lost Time Injury (LTI) during the construction of Hamad Port’s Container Terminal 2.
