Volumes up at Kuwait’s terminals

Sharjah-based Gulftainer has a team working in Kuwait with the KPA to improve container handling facilities in the country. It reports that all indications are for an even higher rate of growth in 2007. Provisional first quarter figures for the year were 15% higher in terms of moves and 19% higher in teu terms than during the same period in 2006. In addition to the rapidly expanding local Kuwaiti economy, as one of the historic gateways to Iraq, volumes transiting Kuwait are also expected to increase.

Plans have already been made to expand the terminals’ container handling capabilities to cater for future cargo increases. New gantry cranes and yard equipment, the redevelopment of stacking areas and installation of enhanced computer systems are all in the pipeline, in addition to the deepening and widening of the approach channel to accommodate larger ships.