Bahrain’s Khalifa Bin Salman Port (KBSP) handled record container throughput in January, which was 21.7 per cent higher than previous months, said a top official of the General Organisation of Sea Ports (GOP).

In addition, the berth productivity reached its highest 62.1 moves in January with an average growth rate of 14.9 per cent per month since the commencement of KBSP operations in April 2009.

“KBSP’s performance continues to improve month- on- month, both in terms of commercial and operational activities,” said Hassan Al Majed, director general of GOP.

“The port’s world-class infrastructure, including sophisticated state-of-the-art technologies, top-of-the-line equipment, and our team of experts at GOP and port operators have collectively played a significant role in enhancing the efficiency and productivity of Bahrain’s port,” he added.

“The latest operational statistics are evidence that KBSP has already begun to solidifying its prominence among the shipping hubs of the region,” said Al Majed.

The statistics report a marked development in the overall competence and outstanding performance in the port’s commercial and operational activities.

Bahrain is also establishing itself as a regional transhipment hub through KBSP, with January recording the highest number of transhipment containers.

The statistics further reported an improvement in KBSP’s gate turn time, the global standard defined by the amount of time required for trucks to enter the port, load or discharge a container and leave the port.

Furthermore, gross crane productivity remained high at 32.8 TEUs, increasing by an average monthly rate of 9.2 per cent over the last 10 months.

The port operators, APM Terminals, played a significant role in these improvements by bringing their global experience and expertise in the management of international ports, a statement said. – TradeArabia News Service