Transcript Role of Beirut - Uniship Group

« THE ROLE OF BEIRUT CONTAINER TERMINAL IN
THE EAST MEDITERRANEAN BASIN »
Presented by
E. Zakhour, President of International Chamber of Navigation of Beirut
INTRODUCTION
Allow me first to express my gratitude to the organizing
committee for having giving me the honor of addressing your
distinguished assembly and reviewing the present state of affairs
of Beirut Port Container Terminal as well as our strategic plan for
the coming years.
PRESENTATION
Before presenting the facts and figures about our brand new
Container Terminal, I find it crucially important to point out that all
along its history which dates back to 3000 years B.C. , Beirut
Port played a key role within the Phoenician Kingdoms which
dominated during those days both banks of the Mediterranean
Basin.
Nowadays Beirut Port stands as the nearest port to any of the
capital cities of the Arab Hinterland. Therefore, and in spite of all
obstacles and extra borders charges and taxes on goods and
trailers transited from Beirut Port to any Arab Countries, it will
always be more profitable for Arab traders to use Beirut Port than
their own national Ports as a point for imports.
Table 1: Distance between Ports and the following Capital Cities
Beirut-Damascus
120Km
Beirut-Amman
235km
Beirut-Bagdad
1085Km
Lattakia-Damascus
360Km
Lattakia-Amman
625km
Lattakia-Bagdad
1475km
Tartous-Damascus
260km
Tartous-Amman
525km
Tartous-Bagdad
1375km
Aqaba-Damascus
452km
Aqaba-Amman
335km
Aqaba-Bagdad
1185km
In addition to the above, Beirut Port happens to have a unique
strategic position which makes it the most convenient crossing
point and port of passage for ships trading within the nearby 3
continents.
Bearing this reality in mind, and taking into account the
forthcoming Euro-Med partnership, the Lebanese Authority has
in the last 15 years spent more than 230 millions US Dollars to
rehabilitate, modernize and expand Beirut Port, allowing it to
accommodate giant carriers.
The most significant part of modernization that was brought
about is a new container terminal which became officially
operative as from March 2005.
A consortium between a British company “MDHC” (Mersey
Docks & Harbour, UK) and an American company “IMA”
(International Maritime Associates, Washington, USA) and a third
Lebanese partner “BCTC” (Beirut Container Terminal
Consortium) has won the bid to operate the Container Terminal,
led by experts seconded by “MDHC”.
Table 2: Main specifications of Beirut Container Terminal.
Quay 15 :
Length : 250 meters.
Depth : 11 meters.
Quay 16 :
Length : 600 meters.
Depth : 15.5 meters.
Ship-to-shore gantry cranes : 3 .
Rubber tyred gantry cranes : 6 (RTG).
Reach stackers : 6 .
Terminal tractors : 4 x 2 drives.
Terminal chassis : 30 .
Stacking area : 245000 square meters.
Capacity : 450000 TEU per year.
Waiting period : nil .
Current Situation of Beirut Port
The competitiveness of Beirut Container Terminal coupled with
good performance, flexibility and low handling costs, has already
attracted MSC to make weekly calls as from July 2005, with their
mega vessels (7500TEU) from the Fareast calling directly Beirut.
MSC has actually decided to use Beirut as a HUB where their
mega vessels discharge their loads for forward voyages towards
neighboring Mediterranean countries such as Syria, Turkey,
Cyprus and Egypt.
In July and August 2005, the Terminal has handled 89000 TEU
out of which 27000TEU transshipment containers, compared
with 70000TEU discharged in Beirut during the same period of
2004, thus the increase of 27 percent.
Table 3: Total TEU from January to August
YEAR
TOTAL TEU
+/-(%)
2001
2005
197000
283000
+ 44 %
2002
2005
198000
283000
+ 43 %
2003
2005
195000
283000
+ 45 %
2004
2005
251000
283000
+ 13 %
In 2004, Beirut Port dealt with 390000 TEU and is expected to handle
in 2005 around 460000 TEU with an increase of 18 %.
The rapid growth of the Terminal turnover has, however, promoted the expansion
of the Terminal in order to accommodate with the increasing demands of the
shipping community. Bearing this in mind, Beirut Port Authority took recently
the following steps to enhance the ability of the Container Terminal to handle
simultaneously any numbers of vessels:
1- Allow to the geared vessels to use their own cranes, to the gearless vessels to
use the mobile cranes and to berth alongside quays nrs. 13 & 14, whenever
the quays of Container Terminal nrs. 15 & 16 are occupied by other vessels.
2- To stack the empty containers outside the stacking area of terminal, alongside
the open space of quay nr. 14.
The operators of the terminal have also left their options opened, by hiring shore
equipments when needed in order to preserve the main quality of Beirut Port:
“No waiting Time”
Furthermore, the customs authority issued a memorandum allowing the shipping
agents to stack the empty containers outside the port.
The terminal is also equipped with an online Data System, updated regularly,
allowing the shipping agents to transmit and receive any information on the
containers positions.
Expansions looking ahead plans are being elaborated to increase the
capacity of the Terminal in the next 6 years.
Two scenarios are in preparation:
First Scenario
-The first is expected to be put in place in the next 2 years, provides for
the following works to be executed:
-Filling up part of 4th basin to extend the quay nr. 12 from 242 meters up
to 492 meters.
-Extend the quay nr. 16 from its present length of 600 meters up to 782
meters
Table 4: Beirut Container Terminal at Year 2007
Quay 12 :
Length : 492 meters.
Depth : 13 meters.
Quay 13 :
Length : 315 meters.
Depth : 11 meters.
Quay 14 :
Length : 200 meters.
Depth : 10.5 meters.
Quay 15 :
Length : 250 meters.
Depth : 11 meters.
Quay 16 :
Length : 782 meters.
Depth : 15.50 meters
With 5 ship to-shore Gantry Cranes.
Stacking area 450000 square meters capacity up to 825000 TEU.
Meanwhile a 4th ship-to-shore gantry cranes is expected to reach Beirut Port
in second half of November 2005, while the 5th one will arrive in mid next
year.
Situation of Beirut Port in 2007
Second Scenario
The second scenario which is expected to be released during the next 6 years
consists:
-Filling up the rest of 4th basin, to connect quay nr. 12 with quay nr. 16.
-To extend quay nr. 16 from its length of 782 meters (in 2007) up to 1800 meters,
till the border of Beirut River.
-To dredge the depth of all the new quay nr.16 up to 15.5 meters
Table 5: Beirut Container Terminal in 2011
QUAY 12 :
Length : 1800 meters.
Depth : 15.50 meters.
With 15 ship-to-shore gantry cranes.
Capacity : 1.750 million TEU
The second scenario also envisions building an extension of the present
auxiliary breakwater to secure maximum protection for the new quay nr.
16.
Long-term Third Scenario
A long-term third scenario is also to be studied at a later stage. It endorses
the project of making Beirut Port the biggest and most important platform
in the East Mediterranean Region by expanding the port beyond the north
bank of Beirut River.
Situation of Beirut Port in 2011
CONCLUSION
In light of the above and as we go forward expanding and modernizing Beirut
Port, the latter will be by excellence the HUB of the East Mediterranean
providing all transport needs in North Africa and the Middle East countries.
In conclusion, we Lebanese are keen on resuming our ancestors leading role in
the shipping industry, and the “Chambre International de Navigation de
Beyrouth” will be delighted to collaborate with all of you and with the rest of
the Shipping Community, joining forces and heading together towards a
peaceful and prosperous partnership.
Thank you.