The Khalifa Bin Salman Port (KBSP), one of the GCC's most productive harbours located on the north-east of Bahrain, saw an 11 per cent growth in total local container volume last year, according to official data.

According to the latest statistics, transshipment volumes have increased substantially by 149 per cent contributing significantly to this surge, reported the Gulf Daily News, our sister publication.

Local container volumes increased by 11 per cent with local general cargo volumes moving up by 13 per cent when compared to the same period last year, it stated

Transportation Minister Kamal Ahmed, along with senior officials from the Ports and Maritime Affairs (PMA), recently attended a meeting with the port operator APM Terminals Bahrain chief executive Marco Neelsen to review performance for 2012.

"The port saw record volumes of transshipment cargo pass through our facilities last year," Neelsen said.

"Despite the slowdown in the global economy of 2012, KBSP demonstrated a marked development in our overall competence and we achieved an outstanding performance in commercial and operational activities."

In addition, he briefed the minister on some of the projects which would take top priority this year.

"A remarkable increase was recorded in the import of vehicles alone which doubled in the last three years, despite the global economic downturn over the last few years," PMA director-general Hassan Al Majed said.

"At PMA, our strategic objective is to continue to develop and grow the maritime industry ultimately contributing to the kingdom's economic prosperity," he said.

In November 2012, the port achieved record throughput volumes since it commenced operations recording 66,247 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU), and continued to maintain consistent growth in volumes throughout recording more than 0.5 million TEU by end of 2012, which is 40 per cent higher when compared with year 2011.

Although gross crane productivity dropped from September 2012, the port managed to maintain consistent berth productivity due to improved resource planning.

KBSP occupies an area of 110 hectares of reclaimed land and is located on the north-east of the kingdom, only 13km away from Bahrain International Airport, and it is also linked to the road leading to the King Fahd Causeway.

With a total quayside of 1,800 metres, it is designed to accommodate a container capacity of more than 1.1m TEUs annually, as well as passengers, general break-bulk and roll-on/roll-off cargo.

The port provides sea freight, shipping, and logistic services in accordance with the highest international specifications and standards in the industry.-TradeArabia News Service