The completion of the first phase of Jeddah Islamic Port’s newest premier container facility, Red Sea Gateway Terminal (RSGT), was recently celebrated with the arrival of UASC’s Vessel Al Muttanabi.

The first call provides a practical demonstration of the Red Sea's most modern container terminal in action, said a RSGT statement.

Located at the northern end of the Jeddah Islamic Port (JIP), work at the SR2 billion ($510 million) Greenfield container-terminal, commenced in January 2008.

The 1.8 million TEU, second-generation terminal constructed under a BOT agreement with the Saudi Port Authority, is due to be fully completed by the third quarter of 2010, the RSGT said in a statement.

The company management and directors were joined by Captain Saher Tahlawi, director general of Jeddah Islamic and many high level dignitaries and partners.

Since inception, RSGT has embraced its brief to build a modern and sustainable container terminal for the global marketplace, and the redefinition of the port industry in Saudi Arabia, the statement said.

Six Tandem-lift, Super Post-Panamax, 85-ton cranes, manufactured by ZPMC were delivered and commissioned earlier in the year.

These ship-to-shore cranes are complimented by twenty, advanced (RTGs)-Yard Cranes. An additional 4 cranes and 6 RTGs are also scheduled for delivery by June 2010, the sttement added.

Other port investments in the past year include the latest Terminal Operating Systems, Navis Sparcs N4, a fully integrated solution from gate to yard to vessel; highly “smart” Gate Automation System; as well as the employment of the latest construction techniques and environment-friendly materials available worldwide.

'Less than 2 years ago we broke the ground on this project. And despite facing a globally, challenging year our first ship has berthed on schedule”, stated RSGT chief executive officer Aamer Alireza.

'The realization of first phase of the terminal is a result of much more than excellent construction and world-class equipment: it is a testament to the accomplishments made possible by successful partnerships,' Alireza pointed out.

'I would also like to extend my appreciation to the solid support of our shareholders, especially MMC of Malaysia, a leader in the port and infrastructure development, who have worked alongside in turning our terminal into a commercial reality,' he added.

Earlier in the week RSGT completed and transferred the ownership of its dedicated deep-water channel with a depth of 16.5m and alongside turning basin with a depth of 18m to the Saudi Port’s Authority.

To be used solely by vessels calling at the facility, the channel is another one of the terminal’s key features readying the container facility to serve the new generation of supersize cargo vessels.

“The port efficiency and canal capacity are clearly going to be a game-definer in the container terminal industry,” said COO Lye Seng Tan.

“Terminals will have to allow for the newer supersize 13,000 TEU+ container vessels that require deeper drafts to transport the maximum amount of goods in the most efficient and safe manner,” he added-TradeArabia News Service