US-based Jade Software said its leading container and general cargo terminal operating system Jade Master Terminal (JMT) has been selected by Gulftainer for its new container terminal at the port of Ruwais, Abu Dhabi.

One of the most productive terminal management companies in the world, Gulftainer had handled close to three million containers in its various terminals around the region last year.

Speaking from Jade's US office, Jade Software managing director Craig Richardson said Gulftainer is a key strategic customer for the company's growing marine terminals business in major ports around the world.

'We are very pleased to expand our JMT footprint into the Middle East with award-winning terminal operator Gulftainer. This is another vote of confidence in the JMT product, increasingly being recognised as one of the best products for managing multi-modal marine terminals,' Ricghardson remarked.

Richardson said the interest in JMT has been steadily building from new and existing customers.

'In June 2009, Jade announced Ignazio Messina & C (Messina Line) had selected JMT to manage the Nino Ronco terminal in Genoa. We are seeing strong interest in JMT and growing demand for consulting services from our logistics division, which has allowed Jade to increase its Europe and US-based resources.'

'We have also focused our marine terminals strategy on what we have identified is an under-serviced segment in the terminal operating system market,' he added.

In recognition of the company's significant growth and momentum in the terminal operating systems market, Richardson has announced the appointment of Howard Wren as director of Jade's global logistics division.

Wren was most recently technical director of AECOM's Ports and Marine business and has worked on a range of high profile international projects in the ports sector, Richardson said.

'Securing Howard to lead our logistics team is a real coup for Jade. He is recognised as a world-leading container terminal design and development consultant with a deep understanding of the sector and a passion for delivering the innovative products and services that Jade customers expect,' he added.-TradeArabia News Service