The Bahrain government has handed over the new Khalifa Bin Salman Port to APM Terminals, one of the world’s leading container terminal owners and operators.

Acknowledging the receipt of the handover certificate from the Bahrain government, APM Terminals said the company will complete the commissioning of the cranes and other equipment on-site and then finalise the training of staff on the new equipment.

“We very much look forward to this new stage in the privatisation of Bahrain’s commercial port. During the past two years, we have operated Mina Salman to the highest possible standards, bearing in mind the limitations of the infrastructure there, said Steen Davidsen, managing director of APM Terminals Bahrain.

A joint venture with YBA Kanoo Holdings of Bahrain, APM Terminals Bahrain was established in 2006 with the purpose of operating port, marine and related services within Bahrain and its waters. Kanoo is a longstanding partner of the AP Moller - Maersk Group in the Middle East.

He said the company plans to launch its commercial operations at Khalifa Bin Salman Port – Bahrain Gateway on April 1, 2009.

"The first commercial vessel call is anticipated approximately one week later, and the first container vessel is planned to call within the second half of the month," Davidsen explaained.

"With the move to the new, purpose-built facility, we intend to build on the progress which we have already made, and which the market in Bahrain has come to expect as a minimum standard of service," he added.

Davidsen said, "With the much larger and more modern port at Khalifa Bin Salman Port, we are in detailed discussions with a number of carriers about opportunities to harness Bahrain’s strategic location as a hub for transhipment services for the Upper Gulf."

"Now that we have a firm date for operation, we look forward to moving forward with this opportunity soon," he added.-TradeArabia News Service