QTerminals, the operator of the first phase of Hamad Port in Qatar, recently held an event to celebrate reaching the major milestones of handling two million TEU (twenty-foot equivalent unit) and five million tonnes of general cargo up to the end of October, up three times versus June 2017.

The celebration was held under the patronage and in the presence of Jassim Saif Ahmed Al Sulaiti, Minister of Transport and Communications and chairman of QTerminals, said a statement from the company.

This remarkable feat was achieved in record time with operations at Hamad Port only starting as recently as October 2016. A number of stakeholders and representatives from shipping lines, freight forwarders, and the wider maritime industry attended the event, it said.

Addressing the gathering, Al Sulaiti said: “This achievement would not have been possible without the vision of HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and the unwavering support of HE Sheikh Abdullah Bin Nasser Al Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Interior. Thanks to their efforts, Hamad Port is being transformed from a feeder port to a hub port, a testament to Qatar's world-class infrastructure.”

“This important achievement is a clear indication of the status which Hamad Port has gained in such a short time. The great success lies in having diversified and expanded its business base,” he said.

“The port is playing a significant role in meeting the needs of local markets as well as servicing the country’s major projects,” he added.

“We will continue to work towards further achievements and support the country's economic growth with full commitment to providing fast and efficient services to our valued customers,” Al Sulaiti noted.

Also at the event, Neville Bisset, chief executive officer of QTerminals, said: “Our mission wasn’t an easy one, but thanks to the guidance of the esteemed leadership, our experienced and talented team was able to deliver the highest standards of service quality in port operations through both innovation and partnership, which enabled us to handle more than two million TEU to the end of October 2018.”

“For many observers 2018 has been a transformative year for the port management and operations industry. Changing economic trends, shifting trade patterns, and worldwide demographic movements are influencing the supply chain, and our company is ensuring that Hamad Port is fully prepared to handle any supply chain changes,” he said.

“Our objective is to optimize capacity and maintain the highest service levels, thereby driving the expansion and diversification of trading partners for the benefit of Qatar’s economy and trade,” he added.

Hamad Port has significant scope for growth and innovation, and QTerminals, as the operator of Phase 1 of Hamad Port, is in a unique position to enable stronger maritime trade and to stimulate economic growth locally, regionally, and internationally.

As part of its strategic vision, port management company Mwani Qatar is working to achieve a set of goals that are in line with Qatar's Vision 2030. The main objective is to transform Qatar into a vibrant regional hub by making Qatari ports the preferred choice for port users with an emphasis on innovation, ensuring global operating efficiencies and developing high quality customer service. Mwani strives to apply best practices and international standards adopted in major international ports to stimulate trade and support investment and economic diversification. This in turn enhances the position of Hamad Port, and ensures the local market’s stability and eliminates the use of intermediate ports.  

QTerminals is a terminal operating company jointly established by Mwani Qatar (51 per cent shareholding) and Qatar Navigation (Milaha – 49 per cent shareholding) and is responsible for enabling Qatar’s imports and exports, its maritime trade flows and stimulating economic growth locally and regionally.

QTerminals provides container, general cargo, roll-on-roll-off (RoRo), livestock and offshore supply services in Phase 1 of Hamad Port, Qatar’s gateway to world trade.

QTerminals was established to provide consistent, quality services to its clients and enable smoother trade flows internationally. With a focus on employing and retaining the brightest talents, QTerminals aims to be, within three years, the best terminal operator in the region in terms of overall quality of service and client satisfaction.

Its long-term vision is to be recognized internationally as the most reliable terminal operator and an enabler for the economic growth of Qatar, it stated. – TradeArabia News Service