ALV Phase 2 has been designed to allow the flexibility of handling a wide variety of cargoes as regional and international trading patterns continue to evolve in the Middle East. ALV’s developed land now encompasses 24 hectares (59 acres) with an additional 20 hectares (49 acres) of area expected to be developed within the next two years.

Aqaba Logistics Village CEO Hakam Abul Feilat said: “This modern multi-purpose facility represents a new step for the Port of Aqaba and the Kingdom of Jordan as we continue toward our goal of becoming an essential regional commercial and logistics hub. Our upgraded services and capabilities will help to create an efficient, economical and reliable supply chain for importers and distributors in Jordan, the Levant and inland points in the Middle East.” Over the past three years distribution services at ALV have been increasing by over 40% annually.

The new open yards will be used for storing containers, cars, timber and project cargo moving through the port. ALV’s two distribution center warehouses are located in close proximity to Aqaba Container Terminal (ACT), which is a joint venture between APM Terminals and the Aqaba Development Corporation, and is managed by APM Terminals. The new facilities will focus on light manufacturing, including, garments and processing aid supplies alongside other goods moving in transit to Iraq.

ALV’s upgraded services include 16 mechanical dock levelers enabling high-capacity and high-efficiency handling of all cross-stuffing operations; warehousing capabilities which include storage, handling, picking, sorting, palletizing and other value-added services employing professional racking systems, and heavy-duty outdoor storage yards, along with available office space on upper levels of the buildings.

The International Committee of the Red Cross became the first major distribution contract concluded for ALV Phase 2 with plans to use Aqaba as a central supply hub for humanitarian aid supplies. “The upgraded logistics village will ensure the highest standards of safety, efficiency and operational performance are installed for the world’s leading importers and exporters,” added Mr. Feilat.

Part of the APM Terminals Global Terminal Network, ACT handled 787,000 TEUs in 2014. A terminal expansion project completed in October 2013 added 460 meters to the existing quay to create a total quay length of 1 km, increasing the annual container throughput capacity to 1.3 million TEUs.

The LHM 800 has a lifting capacity of up to 308 tons and a boom range of up to 64 metres. “We are very proud to be the first on the market to put an LHM 800 mobile port crane into operation. We are using the crane at both our container and RoRo Terminals for loading heavy cargo. Given the increasing size and greater weight of industrial plant components, we are optimally positioned for the future,” says Alexei Shukletsov, Managing Director of the Port of Bronka. Built within eight months, the LHM 800 in heavy load configuration was delivered completely assembled to the Port of Bronka by the freighter, MV “Papenburg”. The cargo handling operation currently has 4 Liebherr STS P167 L (WS) container gantry cranes and 10 RTG cranes built by Konecranes of Finland. The cranes have a stacking height of one-over-five standard containers, can reach over a stack width of six containers plus discharge and load rail tracks and have a lifting capacity of 50 tons beneath the spreader. The high-performance container gantry cranes with a boom reach of 51 metres are capable of discharging or loading 18 adjacent containers on deck. In twin-lift operation they each have a lifting capacity of 65 tons. This equipment is complemented during the first stage by 25 Terberg YT 222 terminal tractors with a capacity of up to 36 tons, 25 Novatech roll-trailers, 2 empty container stackers, 2 reach stackers for use on rail tracks and for the RoRo Terminal, and a Konecranes SMV Loader with a lifting capacity of 33 tons. Bronka’s intermodal handling facilities are therefore optimally positioned for handling state-of-the-art post-Panamax vessels.