Hamad Port CT2 set to receive four quay cranes, 14 mobile cranes from China

"We have cranes arriving (soon). Four new cranes arriving are big ones and we have 14 yard cranes and they are coming on a barge fully built. The cranes are as high as 85m," Bissett told in an exclusive interview with Gulf Times Editor-in-Chief Faisal Abdulhameed al-Mudahka.The cranes, which were built in a span of 16 months in China despite Covid-19 challenges, have already been loaded by specialists, who will accompany the barge to offload in Hamad Port. The cranes were built by HHMC (Haixi Heavy-duty Machinery), Qingdao.These cranes would be deployed for the CT2 development, which saw as much as 70% of the materials used were procured locally, an indicator of the support to the domestic economy.The 403,500 sqm CT2, which is poised to enhance Qatar’s competitiveness regionally and globally, comprises four phases.Considering the sustained growth outlook of Qatar, both CT2 and CT1 are expected to give a big push to the domestic economy in the medium to long term, industry insiders said, highlighting that the port’s throughput is estimated to be roughly 1.5 times the gross domestic product (GDP).The government's plan is to transform Qatar into a vibrant regional trading hub in the region, given its geographical proximity with the continents and the attractive regulatory and legal environment as well as robust infrastructure.Providing an update on CT2 development works, Bissett said, “QTerminals was awarded the concession for the design, development, management, and operations of CT2, at Hamad Port.The project development was delivered on schedule and under budget, exactly 12 months after the start of construction.Highlighting that the commencing of CT2 is another milestone added to Hamad Port’s record of achievements, Mwani Qatar had said the additional 624m of quayside with 380,000sqm of storage facilities, remote-controlled quay cranes, and environmentally friendly RTGs and tractors have boosted CT2’s huge potential, modern facilities, and advanced systems for increasing Qatar’s trade with the world.“The development of CT2 is to ensure the sustainable growth of local trade and to improve the port’s competitiveness by transforming it into a regional transshipment hub,” it said.Hamad Port is currently handling more than 24 direct services of all the major global shipping lines every week. These direct mainline services have opened various new trade routes and opportunities to bolster the growth of trade and industry in Qatar.The recent annual report of Mwani Qatar had said "multiple container terminals at Hamad Port have been planned to facilitate the expansion of container handling capacity to commensurate with the growing traffic of cargo demand.”On developing the national workforce and contributing to the Qatar National Vision 2030, Bissett earlier 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.”