The Port has presented itself as a more economically competitive and sustainable alternative to land transport for distributing products to Europe and the Mediterranean for Moroccan businessmen, exporters and hauliers from the area. The Port offers a strategic position for traffic between Europe and Morocco, with privileged access to the main European fresh produce distribution markets: Mercabarna and Mercazaragoza in Spain, and St. Charles (Perpignan) and Rungis (Paris) in France.

The MoU was on March 7 by HE Dr. Nasser Al Mansoori, CEO of Etihad Rail, and Capt. Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, CEO of ADPC, at Khalifa Port’s visitor center. The agreement is a significant step for the UAE’s rapidly-progressing rail network and the country’s growing ports and industrial sector.

The 1,200-kilometer Etihad Rail network will complement ADPC’s world-class transportation and industrial infrastructure linking ADPC facilities, including Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi (Kizad) and the adjacent Khalifa Port.

When integrated with ADPC’s infrastructure, the railway network will offer logistics companies an enhanced transportation system combining sea, road and rail.

The Etihad Rail network will also form a vital part of a wider GCC railway network, connecting the UAE with Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

Commenting on the signing of the MoU, Dr. Nasser Al Mansoori said: “Etihad Rail’s railway terminal connection at ADPC will play an essential role in the overall connectivity of the railway with key centres of economic importance to the UAE and the region, enabling a stronger and more efficient supply chain.  Etihad Rail’s connectivity to Khalifa Port and Kizad will also enable our customers to realize further growth and expand their reach in the UAE and GCC.”    

Al Shamisi added: “As the activity of the emirates ports and industrial zone increases, a sophisticated transportation network throughout Abu Dhabi, the UAE and the Arabian Peninsula becomes of the utmost importance. 

“Our new flagship Khalifa Port will be among the first in the region with a fully integrated bulk and container logistics solutions with railway services extending to the GCC, offering our customers, shippers and investors in Kizad unrivalled supply chain efficiencies.

“We are delighted to sign this MoU with Etihad Rail. Our partnership is an important development and a significant step in our progress towards achieving the goals of the Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030.” 

The state-of-the-art Etihad Rail network is being developed in three stages. Construction on Stage One, which will extend 264 kilometres from Shah and Habshan to Ruwais in the Western Region of Abu Dhabi, is well underway. Testing and commissioning on the Habshan-Ruwais route commenced last year.

In addition to connecting to key ADPC hubs and spanning 628 kilometres, Stage Two will extend the network to Dubai, to Saudi Arabia through Ghweifat and to Oman through Al Ain.

Stage Three will add another 279 kilometers of rail and connect to the Northern Emirates, including Fujairah and Ras Al Khaimah.

The application is being made under the Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Act and follows a twelve month consultation with industry, government, customer and community stakeholders. Local information centres will be open over the coming weeks with details of the proposal plans on view.  The ABR Project involves an application to An Bord Pleanála for permission for phased redevelopment work on some of Dublin Port’s existing infrastructure.  Some 42% of Dublin Port’s berths (3km of the port’s 7km) will be lengthened and deepened and the 10km channel from Dublin Bay to the East Link Bridge will be deepened. 

It is the first large scale project under Dublin Port Company’s Masterplan 2012-2040, a framework for the future development of Dublin Port with reference to economic and trade developments set in the context of EU, national, regional and local development plan policies.

The ABR Project will cost an estimated €200 million and Dublin Port Company has the financial resources to fund the project. The engineering works will take place on a phased basis and are expected to take five years to complete, supporting some 200 construction related jobs in the process.  It is further estimated that the growth in volumes which the project will facilitate will result in 320 jobs being created annually between 2012 and 2040.  

Commenting on the application for Dublin Port Company’s Alexandra Basin Redevelopment (ABR) Project, Eamonn O’Reilly, Chief Executive of Dublin Port Company said, “Dublin Port Company’s ABR Project will give us the infrastructure, capacity and versatility needed to futureproof Dublin Port, catering for larger sized vessels and increased trade volumes as Ireland returns to economic growth. Dublin Port Company is committed to carrying out this project within our current footprint, re-developing and utilising existing port lands in the most efficient way possible, while financing the project from our own resources.

“We have engaged with Government, business and industry stakeholders, customers and local communities over the past year to help shape today’s planning application. The public can view the proposal in detail, meet members of the project team at public information days from 25th – 27th March and learn about all aspects of the project over the coming weeks”, he added.

Submissions or observations on the application may be made to An Bord Pleanála at 64 Marlborough Street, Dublin 1, by 7th May 2014.

The minister awarded the mega project of development of the fourth container terminal at JN Port on a design, build, finance, operate and transfer (DBFOT) basis to PSA Bharat Investments Private Limited. JNPT, India’s largest container handling port, has signed the agreement with Dubai-based DP World’s Indian subsidiary Nhava Sheva (Indian) Gateway Terminal (NSIGT) at an estimated cost of Rs 600 crore. The concession agreement entails the development of the container handling facility with a quay length of 330 meters at JN Port at Navi Mumbai in Maharashtra.