The General Organization of Sea Ports (GOP) reviewed the measures and controls adopted to regulate private jetties and ports in the Kingdom of Bahrain at the board meeting held recently.

The meeting, which was held at the GOP headquarters in Hidd under the chairmanship of Shaikh Daij bin Salman Al Khalifa, kicked off with the approval of the agenda and the minutes of the previous session.

The board members reviewed the recent developments with regards to the state-of-the-art service area project at the entrance to Khalifa Bin Salman Port (KBSP).

This new service area facility, which is intended to serve the users of KBSP, will consist of a multi-storey car park, warehouse facility, office building and a banking facility. It will also contain a fuel station, a restaurant and a convenience store. The development of the project is scheduled to be auctioned to local potential investors. 

Commenting on the project, Shaikh Daij said: 'The construction of the new service area comes as a part of GOP’s continuous efforts to efficiently meet the needs of the port users.'

'At GOP we will continue to implement plans which will enhance the profile and capabilities of the new port, the shipping and the logistics industries to significantly contribute to boost Bahrain’s economy in line with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030,' h added.

The members also briefed the management on the measures and controls that will be adopted to regulate private jetties and ports in the Kingdom and actions taken to the issuing of licenses to all stakeholders managing or operating private jetties.

Commenting on the measures, Shaikh Daij said: 'These measures come as part of the responsibilities entrusted to the GOP stipulated in the Legislative Decree No. (61) of 2006 with respect to promulgating the Law of the GOP.'

'The intention is to elevate the standards of the ports industry in Bahrain through applying a set of regulations that will assist in improving the infrastructure and services provided at these private ports, which will reflect the international requirements of efficiency, security and safety, the official added.

The board also expressed satisfaction at the GOP’s financial results achieved so far in the current year. The members later discussed GOP programmes and activities planned for the coming months.-TradeArabia News Service