DG Shipping solution in sight for sea-time imbroglio

Source: http://www.sagarsandesh.com/news/dg-shipping-solution-in-sight-for-sea-time-imbroglio/

Taking a firm step towards keeping its promise of helping the thousands of DNS cadets, who were left in the lurch without their mandatory sea-time training to complete B Sc Nautical Science degree, the Directorate General of Shipping (DGS) is mulling options to go for a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Andaman & Nicobar Administration and Lakshadweep for onboard training.

Speaking to Sagar Sandesh, Mr. Gautam Chatterjee, Director General of Shipping, said: “We had extensive discussions with different people for some time on whether we (Shipping Ministry) can have training cum trading ship where a large number of (DNS) students can be trained.”

Elaborating further about the steps being taken by the DG Shipping for reducing the number of DNS cadets waiting for the training, he added that there is a plan to facilitate an MoU between Indian Maritime University (IMU) and the respective administrations in Andaman Islands and Lakshadweep for the onboard training.

Mr. Chatterjee stated: “We are looking at the possibility of ships, which are running in the mainland- (Andaman & Nicobar) Island sector with 1, 200 passenger capacity, whether we can convert one dormitory for cadets who are put there along with some two officers to have structure training.”

“They (cadets) may not get the total training which is required for the programme, particularly cargo handling,  they may not understand it but a lot of things about ship running, especially the engineering cadets who certainly know about it because it is more or less same,” the DGS pointed out.

“Now out of 18 months,  which is required for DNS or six months which is required for engineering, even a 50 % or 60 % of total sea-timing would be covered there, to that extent I have reduced the pressure on other ships,” the DG Shipping observed.

It may be noted here that Andaman administration and Shipping Corporation of India (SCI), a PSU under Ministry of Shipping, runs regular passenger vessel connectivity between Port Blair (capital of the Island) and Chennai, Kolkata and Vizag.

Likewise, Lakshadweep, located on the Arabian Sea has passenger vessel connectivity with Cochin, Kerala.

Meanwhile, officials in the Shipping Ministry are also contemplating for such a proposal (onboard training) to ease pressure on other ship bottoms, after senior mariners briefed them about the advantages of having a trading-cum-training ship.

Recently, a three-member team comprising Mr. K. Shankar, President –Shipping, India Cements, Chennai and Chairman, IMEI – Chennai branch; Capt. S. Bhardwaj, Professor Emeritus, AMET University; and Capt. K. P. Rajagopal, Vice President,  IL & FS  Maritime, gave a detailed presentation to the top Shipping Ministry officials on these lines.

According to Ministry sources, the team emphasized on the idea  of trading-cum-training ship with long term committed charter assisted by Government of India/  public sector undertaking as a technically as well as economically viable option.

They also vouched for a preliminary study involving feasibility of conversion of cape size bulker into cadet training cum trading vessel, whereas such conversion would accommodate about 180 training berths

With the DG Shipping remaining focused on helping the DNS cadets to get out their problems and complete their degree to remain competitive, it looks so certain that MoU would be a reality in the coming weeks.

P. S. Krishnan elected President of CCHAA

Source: http://www.sagarsandesh.com/news/p-s-krishnan-elected-president-of-cchaa/

                                                                 Mr. P. S. Krishnan

In a tightly fought contest for electing the new office-bearers of Chennai Custom House Agents Association (CCHAA) for the period 2013-2015, Mr. P. S. Krishnan, former Chairman of Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations in India (FFFAI), and his team emerged victorious when the official results were declared.
Mr. Krishnan, currently Advisor to the national level Federation, and his team defeated Mr. A. V. Vijayakumar (immediate past president) and his team in the election that was held in Chennai on Sept. 7.
It may be noted here that the two-time trustee of Chennai Port Trust in the past, Mr. Krishnan was elected to the post of President  in CCHAA for the record fifth time. 
Mr. G. D. Sigamani was elected to the post of Secretary while Mr. D. Vijayakumar became the new treasurer of CCHAA.
Also, Mr. E. V. Subramanian, Mr. R. N. Sekar and Mr. K. V. V Giri were elected as Vice-Presidents of the association, regarded as the backbone of EXIM trade from the region.

The newly elected 25 Executive Committee members are:
Messrs N. Balakrishnan (Standard Container Services); 
T. M. Balasubramanian (KMK Shipping & Clearing (P) Ltd); 
R. Bhaskaran (Sunshine Logistics Pvt Ltd); 
P. N. T. Chandru (Navrang Shipping Pvt Ltd); 
C. T. S. Chidambaram (RYK Freight Forwarders Ltd); 
J. Dillibabu (Sai Shipping & Logistics); 
R. Mohan (Sona Logistics India Pvt Ltd); 
D. Muralidharan (Pluto Shipping & Logistics Pvt Ltd); 
B. Murugan (PSM Logistics); 
R. Nedumaran (Seatrans Freight Forwarders); 
N. R. Padmanaban (Global Services); 
R. Ramachandran (Sri Kalikambal Shipping Pvt Ltd);  
R. Sathyanarayanan (Chozha Naachiyar Shipping Agency); 
R. Lakshmipathy (Sunview Express Logistics Pvt Ltd); 
T. Madhavan (Seagull Freight Systems); 
C. V. Karunakaran (M/s CV Karunakaran); 
S. Sivadoss (Kavikumar Shipping Co);  
P. Sreejith (Express Forwarders); 
N. Sundararajan (Alwar Shipping Services); 
G. Tamizhvanan (Tidel Cargo Logistics P Ltd); 
K. S. Hari (S K Star International); 
A. Thirunavukkarasu (ARS International); 
K. Venkattu (Blue World Cargo); 
Vishal Dadha (A.S.Vasan & Sons) and 
M. A. Zahir Hussain (Zim Lines Logistics).

Will CDC go the Passport way to reduce inordinate delay?

Source: http://www.sagarsandesh.com/news/will-cdc-go-the-passport-way-to-reduce-inordinate-delay/

Getting a passport, a precious document for any citizen of our country who wishes to go abroad, used to be a cumbersome process until 2010, when the Union Government took a decision aimed at providing passport-related services speed, convenience and transparency.

Since then, the whole scenario of waiting for passport, sometime up to six months, has drastically come down to just a few days affair with more transparency.

While the function of granting and issuing passport remains with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has been roped in by the Government of India as its technology and operations partner in the mega project.

Just like MEA, which took the risk and brought a private player for infusing transparency in the process as well as for speedy delivery of passports, will the Directorate General of Shipping (DGS) utilize the services of such a private player to simplify the cumbersome process in issuing Continuous Discharge Certificates (CDC), regarded as Seafarers’ Identity Documents? It’s indeed a million dollar question which begs for an answer.

In the best interest of thousands of sea-going professionals, the DGS should take a firm step to outsource the issuance of CDC to a compatible private player (just like processing of Indian passports that is given to TCS) to scuttle undue delay, feels many a senior mariner in the fraternity.

Though about five lakhs passports and about a lakh CDCs (both fresh and sticker-renewal) on an average are being issued every year, the cumbersome process in issuing CDC eats away more waiting time for energetic seafarers than for a passport, which could be obtained in a week’s time.

While the country has over 110 locations for obtaining passport, only one point –  the Office of the Shipping Master, Government Shipping Office (GSO), Mumbai, has been designated by the Government to cater to the CDC demands.

After Independence, the country, which had very few locations for issuing passports then, expanded its presence across the country due to the growing population. However, the same pace is missing in the expansion of Mercantile Marine Department (MMD) offices in proportion to the increased number of maritime educations since 1950s. Even after steady increase in the number of maritime institutions from a single digit to over 130 in the past six decades, MMD offices in the country are just 12.

What is CDC?

A Continuous Discharge Certificate or a Seaman Record Book is a continuous record of a seaman’s service. The document certifies that the person holding is a seaman as per the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watch keeping for Seafarers (STCW), 1978, as amended in 1995 and recently in 2010.

Major revisions to the STCW Convention and its associated Code (Manila Amendments) entered into force on Jan. 1, 2012, with a five-year transitional period until Jan. 1, 2017.

Every seafarer must carry this document while on board, which is also an official and legal record of his sea experience. The Master of the vessel and the shipping master sign the document each time a seaman is signed off from the vessel certifying his competency and character on board. This is one of the most important documents to be in possession of a seaman is while servicing on board and while appearing for CDC.

If a seaman signs off in a foreign port than he shall get the signature of embassy staff in place of shipping manager or else he shall get shipping master’s signature on arrival in India.

The 3 offices

Under the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958, the DG Shipping had set up three Shipping Masters Offices in Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai and entrusted them with the task of the issuance of CDCs.

These three Shipping Masters have territories of the Indian coastal states equally divided among them by Mercantile Marine Departments (MMD) for better management and issuance of CDCs.

CDC until 2008

Until 2008, CDCs were issued by the three Shipping Masters – in Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai. However, through a DGS order in March 2008, the work of receipt of applications and issuance of all CDCs, including that of replacement, renewal and duplicate CDCs, was centralized in the Office of the Shipping Master, Government Shipping Office (GSO), Mumbai, alone.

And ironically, it was around the same time, when the number of cadets seeking sea-borne jobs (coupled with pre-sea course completed cadets) started to increase tremendously. However, the DG Shipping, instead of decentralizing the whole system to reduce time delay and to introduce more transparency, decided to force all CDC seekers to rush to its Mumbai office, which used to be overcrowded even on any lean day.

The single point process for all CDCs actually played havoc with the lives of thousands of cadets, who are forced to squirm in the verandahs of GSO, Mumbai, for their identity certificates to secure onboard jobs.

According to details available, a new CDC has to be processed and given to the applicant within 90 days and for renewal (sticker) it is just 45 days.

However, the applicants are forced to wait for more than six months to get their CDCs on both the categories and the delay in receiving their identity document badly shatters their onboard job dreams.

Expressing anguish over the inordinate delay in issuing CDC by DGS, a cadet, seeking anonymity, told Sagar Sandesh that the time has come for the DG Shipping to take the bold step and follow in the foot-steps of Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), which took the unimaginable decision of outsourcing the processing of passports – regarded as the most secured document of any country- to a private party.

Ironically, outsourcing of the process by MEA has led to introduction of more transparency in the system and the undue delay in issuing passports has also come down drastically.

“If the same system is introduced by the DG Shipping in processing CDCs, it would ultimately reduce the unwarranted time delay and keep at bay touts,” he suggested. Is CDC more classified document than passport?

Besides, outsourcing would also speed up the process and it will ultimately help seafarers, who are waiting for months to get their CDCs, he further added.

De-centralising order

In a latest order on May 8, 2013, the DG Shipping decentralized the issuance of the replacement, renewal and duplicate CDCs and tasked the offices of Shipping Master, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai to extend facilitatory services to seafarers.

The decision was taken in order to process CDC applications systematically in a streamlined manner within a minimum lead time, the Director-General of Shipping said in the circular.

According to the order, the work of receipt of application and issuance of new CDCs, of all individual category CDCs (excluding Higher National Diploma CDCs) where in the application for such CDCs have to be submitted by the seafarer himself, has been decentralized in the offices of the Shipping Masters — Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai.

However, the work of receipt of application and issuance of the pre-sea training CDCs (major chunk) received from the various maritime training institutions (MTIs) would be continued to be received, processed and issued by the Shipping Master, GSO, Mumbai, only as per the said DGS 2008 directive, the latest circular said.

CDC outsourcing

While the cadets feel that outsourcing of CDC would do the much-needed streamlining of the cumbersome process followed for obtaining the document at DG Shipping, a section of senior mariners told Sagar Sandesh that there are some practical difficulties in outsourcing it.

“In passport, after the initial process and verification of documents, there is nothing much to do a follow-up. But in the case of CDCs, the Shipping Master needs to verify all the supporting documents (including passport) presented by the cadets with the respective institutions and it is really a Herculean task. Only after verification, the Shipping Master would be able to sign the CDC. So, even after outsourcing the process, it will get delayed due to the time consumed while completing the verification process.”

“While issuing a fresh CDC would be an easy job under the outsourced scheme, renewal or issuing of duplicate CDCs could be more time consuming as the Shipping Masters need to accumulate and cross-verify the cadets’ onboard experiences with the respective agencies.”

However, if the process of entries/endorsements into a CDC of seafarer by a Captain of a vessel is made computerized (online basis), all those entries would get reflected in DG Shipping’s Master Server also, thus enabling the Shipping Master’s Office to conclude the renewal process in the shortest possible time, one of the senior mariners asserted.

DGS option

Since the existing system of processing tend to consume more time, the DG Shipping should go in for outsourcing the processing of CDCs and implement 100 per cent computerization of records (all entries on each and every CDC) to assist the process to remain hassle-free.

If the DGS installs centralized data storage server, better E-services and connectivity with other centres to process the CDCs, it would drastically reduce the verification process and make them more efficient.

Since the DG Shipping cannot appoint more Shipping Masters, as it needs Parliament approval, he could very well opt for outsourcing the processing work of CDCs, which remains the major task.

Ban on new approvals of pre-sea maritime degree courses goes

Source: http://www.sagarsandesh.com/news/ban-on-new-approvals-of-pre-sea-maritime-degree-courses-goes/

With a view to meeting the Government’s aspiration to substantially increase its seafarers to nine per cent of the world share, the Shipping Ministry has decided to lift the ban imposed on new approvals of pre-sea maritime degree courses.

Making the big announcement during the inauguration of Shipping Corporation of India’s (SCI) Maritime Training Institute (Thoothukudi campus) on Sept. 7 at V. O Chidambaranar Port, Mr. G. K .Vasan, Union Minister for Shipping, said: “The (Shipping) Ministry has decided to lift the ban imposed on new approvals of pre-sea maritime degree courses and will now allow new approvals for the three-year B.Sc Nautical Science and four-year B.E. Marine Engineering courses.”

Dwelling upon the crucial role played by seafarers in securing the country’s growth, Mr. Vasan added: “We must be proud as Indians because our seafarers have the reputation of being the most disciplined and best trained seafarers, accounting for 7 per cent of the global seafarers. Indeed, the country has positioned itself as a major supplier of the most efficient and cost effective manpower.”

The Minister stated: “Today’s seafaring field is very competitive and the seafarer needs to be highly trained to handle the state-of-art vessels. It has been our endeavour to further strengthen our global share by improving and expanding our capacity to impart quality maritime education to our future seafarers.”

Heaping praise on SCI, the Shipping Minister remarked: “When it comes to providing quality maritime education, SCI is second to none in the country.  The Maritime Training Institute (MTI), Mumbai, was set up in 1987 to meet the training requirements of SCI’s own fleet personnel as well as Indian seafaring community in general.”

“SCI’s training institute has trained about 1.5 lakh candidates including more than 2, 500 deck cadets (of which about 50 are female cadets) so far. Now, aspiring seafarers from this region will also boast of a world class maritime institute right at their doorsteps to pursue a successful seafaring career,” he pointed out.

The Minister also urged the management of SCI, VOC Port Trust and all others concerned to see that the (newly inaugurated) institute grows from strength to strength and justify the hope that has been generated with its opening.

The classes for the first batch also commenced on Sept. 7 in the existing facilities provided by V.O. Chidambaranar Port Trust and it would continue till the new campus for the Maritime Training Institute is constructed in the four hectares of land identified on the eastern side of Tuticorin Thermal Power Station Camp-II campus.

Mr.  Vasan also laid the foundation stone for the construction of a permanent training institute with class room, workshop, swimming pool, residential accommodation for cadets and faculty/staff on the port land situated at the eastern side of Camp-II quarters of TTPS, etc.

Besides others, the function was attended by Mr. S.R. Jeyadurai, MP; Mr. S. S. Rammasubbu, MP; Dr. Vishwapati Trivedi, Secretary, Ministry of Shipping; Dr. P. Vijayan, Director (Chennai Campus), Indian Maritime University (IMU); Mr. S. K. T. Ramachandran, former MP; Mr. S. Natarajan, Chairman, V.O. Chidambaranar Port Trust; trustees of V. O Chidambarnar Port Trust and Directors of Shipping Corporation of India.

RIL in fresh trouble as CAG questions Ministry on gas price hike

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/ril-in-fresh-trouble-as-cag-questions-ministry-on-gas-price-hike/article5097794.ece?homepage=true

PIC Courtesy: http://www.stockwatch.in/ril-net-profit-falls-115-22716

The Mukesh Ambani-owned Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) is in for more trouble as the Comptroller and Auditor-General has questioned the Petroleum and Natural Gas Ministry over the recent gas price increase and wanted to know the steps taken to ensure that the operator (RIL-BP) delivers gas at $4.2 mbtu as per the approved production plan.

Virtually questioning the Rangarajan formula, the CAG has taken serious note of the price revision done in July and sought to know why the Ministry has not exercised its right to fix the price under Article 21.6.3 of the production sharing contract (PSC) for the KG-DWN-98/3 block.

In its August 14 communication, the Office of the Principal Director of Audit, Economic and Service Ministries has sought to know the steps the Ministry has taken to make sure that the operator complies with PSC provisions and meets the Addendum to Initial Development Plan (AIDP) targets, given that technical reports have indicated that the operator has “not fulfilled” its obligations in respect of drilling wells. 
In view of the shortfall in gas production due to non-compliance with the production sharing contract and the ADIP, has the government “ensured that the operator delivers as per the approved production profile at the price fixed of $4.2 mbtu? asks the letter. “If not, reasons thereto, along with supporting documentation. If yes, orders/action taken by the Ministry may be detailed along with supporting documents.”
The CAG has also asked the Ministry to clarify why it has not exercised its right to fix price for the KD-D6 block in view of details of the ADIP, the statement of costs, expenditure and receipts and cost recovery statements and shortfall in production. 
“As per records made available for audit with reference to requisition 30, dated July 18, 2013, regarding revision of pricing of natural gas, the Petroleum Ministry initiated a proposal for the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs to fix a new price of domestic gas as per the recommendations of the Rangarajan Committee.”
As per provision 21.6.3 of the PSC, the formula or basis for the prices to be determined shall be approved by the government before the sale of natural gas to consumers. To grant approval, the government shall take into account the prevailing policy, if any, on the pricing of natural gas… and it may delegate this function to a regulatory authority. The basis for valuation of natural gas from the KG-D6 block has been regulated by the Ministry.
“In this regard, audit observed that while approving the AIDP for the KG-D6 in December 2006, the Directorate-General of Hydrocarbons considered rates between $4 and $5 per mbtu for a production profile up to 2020 and also worked out the government take on profit petroleum on these fixed prices. However, government is aware that the natural gas production from the D1-D3 gasfields is less than that approved by the managing committee,” the letter says.
The average output during 2010 -11 was 48.13 mmscmd against the approved production of 53.40 mmscmd; during 2011-12, it came down to 35.33 mmscmd, against 61.88 mmscmd.

Sakthivel re-elected TEA President

Source: http://www.sagarsandesh.com/news/sakthivel-re-elected-tea-president/

Dr. A. Sakthivel, regarded as the man behind bringing Tirupur regions on the world EXIM map, was re-elected as President of Tirupur Exporters Association (TEA) at the elections held on the sidelines of the Annual General Meeting of the TEA on Aug 31.

Tirupur Exporters Association – popularly known as TEA – was established in the year 1990. This is an Association exclusively for exporters of cotton knitwear which has production facilities in Tirupur. From a modest beginning TEA has grown into a strong body of knitwear exporters. Today, TEA has a membership of over 890 life members and 155 associate members.

In the keenly contested polls, Dr. Sakthivel defeated Mr. Raja Shanmugam, an apparel exporter and Chairman of NIFT-TEA Knitwear Institute, by a margin of 32 votes. The winner got 418 out of the total 805 votes polled.

With the new mandate, Dr. Sakthivel continues to be the President of TEA since the Association was formed in 1990.

While Mr. G. Karhikeyan was re-elected as General Secretary, Mr. E. Palanisamy and Mr. Chandran were elected Vice-Presidents. Likewise, Mr. P. Gopalakrishnan and Mr. Rajkumar became the Joint Secretaries and Mr. P. Moghan was elected as Treasurer.

The members of the association, from the beginning, have resolved to develop their organization focusing on main areas including multilateral growth of knitwear industry and exports, development of infrastructural needs for Tirupur, implementation of schemes for the benefit of the society and public and promotion of constructive co-operation with workers with fair division of rewards.

Dr. Sakthivel, a renowned and well-known Textile Tycoon of South India, was born in a simple, agricultural-oriented family on Nov. 12, 1947 in Tamil Nadu, India.

After securing a Diploma in Automobile Engineering, he began his career with a short term service in TELCO. Realizing the inborn urge in him that he is born to become an entrepreneur, he tuned himself to be a successful employer, rather than being an employee. His flair for business and keen interest in innovation and novelty helped him build up a diversified industrial group in Tirupur, known for its hosiery industry.

Known as one of the leading apparel exporters in South India, Dr. Sakthivel is credited as one of the main architects of Tirupur’s knitwear and garment industry. His relentless efforts and vision for Tirupur transformed this small town into a global apparel-making hub.

He remained to be the prime mover of many visionary projects in Tirupur, such as Tirupur Export Knitwear Industrial Complex (TEKIC), Netaji Apparel Park (NPA),  NIFT – TEA Fashion Knitwear Institute. Today, the town of Tirupur, which has exceeded the Rs. 11,000-crore-mark of knitwear and garments exports, has been the result of Dr. Sakthivel‘s vision.

Under the aegis of AEPC and initiatives of Dr. Sakthivel, Knitwear Technology Mission has been set up in Tirupur. The objective of the Mission is to help the knitwear exporters to produce synthetic-based garments, mainly Sport wear, Swim wear etc. since synthetic garments have a global market throughout the year.

Knitwear Technology Mission is playing a major role for introducing latest technology and also offer design consultancy which will help the exporters to venture into manufacturing of synthetic garments.

Dr.  Sakthivel is the Founder-Promoter of internationally reputed knitwear brand ‘POPPYS’. He has been honoured with the ‘Padmashri’ Award for his significant contribution in the textile industry. He was also awarded the doctorate degree from Bharthiyar University, Coimbatore, for his pivotal role in motivating many enterprising and capable youngsters to make a career in export, his dedicated involvement in visionary projects and initatives and his immeasurable contribution to the growth of industry and to the development of the society.

In 1990, when TEA was formed, Dr. Sakthivel had a vision for the knitwear industry – a billion $ exports in 1995, and achieved it by pursuing the goal with a missionary zeal, taking every day in his fold.

He was the first South Indian to become the member in Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC) in 1984 and become the Chairman of AEPC in 1998 and for the second time in 2004. He has been elected as President of Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO), New Delhi, for the period 2009-2011.

Tirupur exports, from a meagre Rs. 10 crores in 1985 to Rs. 5, 000 crores in 2003 and Rs.11, 000 crores in 2006-07, is a performance that has no parallel anywhere in the world.

Khalifa Port celebrates first anniversary

Source: http://www.adpc.ae/en

Abu Dhabi's state-of-the-art Khalifa Port on Sept 1 celebrated the first year anniversary of its commercial operations.

According to a media statement, in just one year, Khalifa Port has gone from a pristine stretch of reclaimed land four kilometers out to sea, to busy hub port serving 17 shipping lines, offering 18 direct services with direct links to more than 40 ports.

Owned byAbu Dhabi Ports Company (ADPC) and operated by Abu Dhabi Terminals (ADT), the container terminal in Khalifa Port is the very first semi-automated port in the Middle East, a state of the art facility with world class technology.
Khalifa Port which was delivered on time and under budget, commenced commercial operations on 1 September 2012 and was officially inaugurated by HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan President of the UAE and Ruler of Abu Dhabi, on 12 December 2012.

Khalifa Port was built to accommodate all container traffic from Zayed Port and the additional cargo generated by the adjacent Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi (Kizad).
Zayed Port opened in 1972 and has served the Abu Dhabi Emirate for 40 years. However, in 2005, it was realized that with projected growth, Zayed Port would reach full capacity by 2011, and so the Abu Dhabi leadership realized the urgent need for a new modern port with space to grow, to support their long term vision of strong and sustainable economic prosperity.

The work to move all container traffic from Zayed Port to the new Khalifa Port was completed three months ahead of schedule and the transition has enabled Zayed Port to focus on bulk cargo, general cargo, RORO and establishing the port as a world class cruise destination.

Today, Khalifa Port is the gateway to Abu Dhabi, handling all of the container traffic for the Emirate.  With a 16m water depth, Khalifa Port is capable of receiving and handling the biggest ships sailing the world’s oceans.
Khalifa Port is equipped with latest technology and equipment in the industry, including six super post panamax ship to shore cranes which can reach across 22 container stacks on a ship, and 30 automated stacking cranes and 20 straddle carriers.
One year on, direct connections link Khalifa Port to more than 40 international destinations and transshipment at the world’s main hubs, such as Singapore, Tanjung Pelepas on the Straits of Malacca; Hong Kong and Shenzhen in the Pearl River Delta; Port Said at Suez Canal; and Algeciras and Tangiers at the Straits of Gibraltar all offer customers a truly global reach.

Khalifa Port’s first year of commercial operations includes some notable achievements including an 8% increase in productivity for January to July 2013, when compared with the same period last year and in July the terminal handled a record 81,000 TEU containers – the most ever handled in one month in the emirate.
Also in July, the port achieved its highest crane production, with 43.3 crane moves per hour, while loading and unloading the CSL Ride, and in August the terminal achieved a work production rate of 142.4MPH, both achievements placing the terminal in the global top ten for productivity.
Khalifa Port is, with the adjacent Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi (Kizad), a key element in the Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030. Together Khalifa Port and Kizad are increasing international trade, developing the industrial landscape and creating employment opportunities.  By 2030, both will generate 15% of the emirates non-oil GDP.
Khalifa Port and Kizad offer customers an integrated transport structure, ease of doing business and access to global markets linking East and West in international trade.
Marking the first anniversary of commercial operations, Mohamed AlShamisi, Acting CEO of ADPC said: “Khalifa Port and Kizad industrial zone are together, the biggest infrastructure project ever undertaken in the emirate of Abu Dhabi.
“I would like to thank our leaders and stakeholders for their vision and support. Together we are developing a world class sustainable hub port that is already actively enhancing international trade, providing direct access to global markets, and creating development and employment opportunities for the UAE”.
Martijn Van de Linde, the Chief Executive Officer of Abu Dhabi Terminals, the operator of Khalifa Port Container Terminal added: “Khalifa Port lays the foundation for a diverse economy and gives businesses the best possible opportunity to compete in the global market place.
“Since the commercial opening on 1st September last year, our customers have enjoyed 35% productivity increases at the quayside, so ships spend less time in port. We have also cut the trucks turnaround time by 64%, so today a truck spends only about 15 minutes at the terminal to pick-up or drop-off a container” Mr. Van de Linde added.
“Another benefit of the semi-automated operations at the Khalifa Port Container Terminal is that it is a much safer environment than the traditional operating modes used in other regional ports and I am exceptionally proud to say that since we began the first trials here a year ago, we have achieved 1.9 million man hours with no lost time incidents.”
Khalifa Port Phase One has capacity for 2.5 million TEU containers and 12 million tonnes of cargo, however, the terminal is being developed in stages, increasing its capacity as market requirements increase. Ultimately, the port will have capacity for 15 million TEU containers and 35 million tonnes of cargo, making it one of the biggest ports in the world.