BMT Maritime Consultants Pty Ltd, a subsidiary of BMT Ltd, has completed the business planning for a major new offshore port development near Abu Dhabi in the UAE. The work, undertaken on behalf of the Mubadala Development Company, will be used as the basis for the implementation of the US$2.5bn multi-user port and an adjacent 9,900 ha industrial zone.

Plans take shape for Abu Dhabi port project

The new port and industrial zone will replace the existing Mina Zayed Port in Abu Dhabi, which is constrained by surrounding city development and by problems with land transport access. The current port activities will be relocated to the new facilities when the new Khalifa port becomes operation in 2010.

BMT’s tasks included determining traffic forecasts and carrying out market analysis for various commodities to be targeted by the port’s new owners. An integral part of the work was determining the future market throughput for the new port in its start-up phase and during the first 20 years of operations. The consultant also advised Mubadala on the corporatisation of the existing Mina Zayed port company.