QTerminals, which was established in December 2016 with the aim of operating the first phase of Qatar’s flagship Hamad Port, has grown internationally following its strategy, seeing a three-fold increase in monthly containerized volumes and adding new international business units to its portfolio among other milestones.
QTerminals, jointly established by Mwani Qatar and Milaha, is responsible for enabling Qatar’s imports and exports, maritime trade flows and stimulating economic growth locally and regionally.
“We have grown internationally following our internationalization strategy, fully supported by QTerminals Board of Directors and the hard work of a strong and efficient management team. Yes, we are very happy with QTerminals achievements during the last four and half years of commercial operations,” Neville Bissett, CEO, QTerminals noted in an exclusive interview with Gulf Times editor-in-chief Faisal Abdulhameed al-Mudahka.
The “significant and substantial” progress made at Hamad Port since its soft opening on December 16, 2016 is very apparent.
The official inauguration under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al- Thani, the Amir of the State of Qatar, and in the presence of other dignitaries on September 5, 2017 established Hamad Port and QTerminals on the world stage.
The monthly containerized volumes have increased more than three-fold, from an average of just over 40,000 TEUs per month to an average of 125,000 TEUs (Twenty Foot Equivalent Unit - cargo capacity for container ships and terminals) a month.
Since the start of operations, QTerminals has handled over 6mn TEUs and 13mn freight tons of bulk/ general cargo and over 330,000 vehicle units (via RORO).
A milestone for QTerminals during the period is the addition of two new international business units to its portfolio.
QTerminals won the 35-year concession to manage and operate SC Olvia Port in Mykolaiv, Ukraine. Also, in January 2021, QTerminals completed the $140mn acquisition of the Port of Akdeniz, Turkey, from Global Port Holdings.
From January 1, 2021 to end-September 2021, QTerminals has handled 1,178,276 TEUs, 1.157 m FT of bulk/general cargo, 55,596 RORO units and some 1,216 vessels.
Asked what QTerminals projection was for cargo handling by 2025 and 2030, Bissett replied, “The containerized throughput projection for 2025 is 1.85mn TEUs and 2.3mn TEUs by 2030, estimated at 5% growth year on year.”
Highlighting its commitment to “safe and injury-free operations”, he said QTerminals achieved 5mn man-hours without incurring any lost time injury with zero fatality and zero LTI frequency rate (LTFIR).
During the interview, Bissett noted, “The increase in number of direct calls at Hamad Port shows the trust, reliance and confidence of shipping lines on QTerminals services. We offer our customers the highest levels of efficiency and productivity, while ensuring lower vessel turnaround times.”
Providing an update on Container Terminal 2 development works, Bissett said, “QTerminals was awarded the concession for the design, development, management, and operations of Container Terminal 2 (CT2), at Hamad Port.
The project development was delivered on schedule and under budget, exactly 12 months after the start of construction.”
He said in August 2020, QTerminals signed its first international port concession for SC Olvia in Mykolaiv, Ukraine. The 35-year concession agreement was signed by QTerminals with the Ukrainian Ministry of Infrastructure and Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority.
Touching on the special projects currently undertaken by the QTerminals and those in the pipeline, Bissett said, “Special projects include start-up of the Strategic Food Security Facility SFSF (a bulk commodities terminal to handle edible oils, rice and sugar), an exclusive Port Ancillary Services Area, which will cater to the requirements of port users in handling of their cargoes, and collaboration with Qatar Free Zones to facilitate cargo flows in and out of Qatar.”
On developing the national workforce and contributing to Qatar National Vision 2030, Bissett said, “QTerminals talent acquisition strategy is fully aligned with the Qatar National Development Strategy and Qatar Vision 2030. Recruiting top talent is critical to the success of any business, as employees are a key source of competitive advantage. We believe that equipping the workforce with diverse skills that can support the current and future needs of an economy is essential to the long-term sustainability of any nation.”
“We have grown internationally following our internationalization strategy, fully supported by QTerminals Board of Directors and the hard work of a strong and efficient management team. Yes, we are very happy with QTerminals achievements during the last four and half years of commercial operations,” Neville Bissett, CEO, QTerminals noted in an exclusive interview with Gulf Times editor-in-chief Faisal Abdulhameed al-Mudahka.
The “significant and substantial” progress made at Hamad Port since its soft opening on December 16, 2016 is very apparent.
The official inauguration under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al- Thani, the Amir of the State of Qatar, and in the presence of other dignitaries on September 5, 2017 established Hamad Port and QTerminals on the world stage.
The monthly containerized volumes have increased more than three-fold, from an average of just over 40,000 TEUs per month to an average of 125,000 TEUs (Twenty Foot Equivalent Unit - cargo capacity for container ships and terminals) a month.
Since the start of operations, QTerminals has handled over 6mn TEUs and 13mn freight tons of bulk/ general cargo and over 330,000 vehicle units (via RORO).
A milestone for QTerminals during the period is the addition of two new international business units to its portfolio.
QTerminals won the 35-year concession to manage and operate SC Olvia Port in Mykolaiv, Ukraine. Also, in January 2021, QTerminals completed the $140mn acquisition of the Port of Akdeniz, Turkey, from Global Port Holdings.
From January 1, 2021 to end-September 2021, QTerminals has handled 1,178,276 TEUs, 1.157 m FT of bulk/general cargo, 55,596 RORO units and some 1,216 vessels.
Asked what QTerminals projection was for cargo handling by 2025 and 2030, Bissett replied, “The containerized throughput projection for 2025 is 1.85mn TEUs and 2.3mn TEUs by 2030, estimated at 5% growth year on year.”
Highlighting its commitment to “safe and injury-free operations”, he said QTerminals achieved 5mn man-hours without incurring any lost time injury with zero fatality and zero LTI frequency rate (LTFIR).
During the interview, Bissett noted, “The increase in number of direct calls at Hamad Port shows the trust, reliance and confidence of shipping lines on QTerminals services. We offer our customers the highest levels of efficiency and productivity, while ensuring lower vessel turnaround times.”
Providing an update on Container Terminal 2 development works, Bissett said, “QTerminals was awarded the concession for the design, development, management, and operations of Container Terminal 2 (CT2), at Hamad Port.
The project development was delivered on schedule and under budget, exactly 12 months after the start of construction.”
He said in August 2020, QTerminals signed its first international port concession for SC Olvia in Mykolaiv, Ukraine. The 35-year concession agreement was signed by QTerminals with the Ukrainian Ministry of Infrastructure and Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority.
Touching on the special projects currently undertaken by the QTerminals and those in the pipeline, Bissett said, “Special projects include start-up of the Strategic Food Security Facility SFSF (a bulk commodities terminal to handle edible oils, rice and sugar), an exclusive Port Ancillary Services Area, which will cater to the requirements of port users in handling of their cargoes, and collaboration with Qatar Free Zones to facilitate cargo flows in and out of Qatar.”
On developing the national workforce and contributing to Qatar National Vision 2030, Bissett said, “QTerminals talent acquisition strategy is fully aligned with the Qatar National Development Strategy and Qatar Vision 2030. Recruiting top talent is critical to the success of any business, as employees are a key source of competitive advantage. We believe that equipping the workforce with diverse skills that can support the current and future needs of an economy is essential to the long-term sustainability of any nation.”
