HE the Minister of Transport Jassim Seif Ahmed al-Sulaiti and HE the Minister of Commerce and Industry Sheikh Mohamed bin Hamad bin Qassim al-Thani witnessed Saturday the arrival of the first vessel at the Strategic Food Security Facilities (SFSF) Terminal located at Hamad Port.
The vessel was loaded with two LHM 280 mobile harbour cranes and their accessories after German company Liebherr completed their manufacture. The event signals the countdown to the operating of the State’s SFSF at Hamad Port as scheduled.
The arrival of the vessel, which was loaded with two LHM 280 mobile harbour cranes and their accessories, signals the countdown to the operating of the State’s Strategic Food Security Facilities at Hamad Port as scheduled. PICTURE: Thajudheen
The vessel was loaded with two LHM 280 mobile harbour cranes and their accessories after German company Liebherr completed their manufacture. The event signals the countdown to the operating of the State’s SFSF at Hamad Port as scheduled.
The arrival of the vessel, which was loaded with two LHM 280 mobile harbour cranes and their accessories, signals the countdown to the operating of the State’s Strategic Food Security Facilities at Hamad Port as scheduled. PICTURE: Thajudheen
HE the Minister of Transport Jassim Seif Ahmed al-Sulaiti, HE the Minister of Commerce and Industry Sheikh Mohamed bin Hamad bin Qassim al-Thani and other officials during the arrival of the first vessel at the Strategic Food Security Facilities (SFSF) Terminal located at Hamad Port. PICTURE: Thajudheen
“The total percentage of work progress carried out at the site of the project, which the Ministry of Transport was charged with overseeing its construction, exceeds 93%. In addition, the documentation for the facilities’ operator has been prepared in cooperation with an international consulting firm in accordance with best practices in this field, and in conjunction with the committee for following up on the implementation of food security policies in the government and private sectors,” HE al-Sulaiti said.
He noted that he was proud of such a high percentage of work accomplished despite the repercussions associated with the Covid-19 pandemic, which affected several economies around the world directly and indirectly, as well as contractors of megaprojects and suppliers.
The ship at Hamad Port. PICTURE: Thajudheen
He said the construction of the State’s SFSF follows the best global standards and manufacturing practices and deployed the latest technologies to raise the capabilities of storage, packing, transportation, and handling operations.
For his part, HE Sheikh Mohamed said: “This vital project comes in line with the Qatar National Food Security Strategy, and will contribute to enhancing the State’s reserve capabilities, as well as securing, strengthening, and developing the strategic stock system for food, consumer, and catering goods.
“This feat would further consolidate Qatar’s position as a regional leader in the area of strategic stock sufficiency, and reaffirm its ability to achieve food security and meet its people’s needs.”
He added that Qatar has launched many initiatives aimed at implementing integrated mechanisms that would enhance and raise its strategic stock, and support its development of food security policies, especially since the latter is key to the State’s security and economic independence.
The LHM 280 is designed for rapid, versatile and efficient cargo handling up to a maximum lifting capacity of 84 tonnes and a 40 metre maximum radius for multitasks and necessary usage in operations.
Nabil AlKhaldi, executive director of the Hamad Port Project, said the LHM 280 is the right solution for all cargo rapid handling needs for food products, such as containers, general cargo, bulk materials, or heavy lifts.
It also features a special multi-axle undercarriage system, superior cruciform supporting base, Liebherr Litronic crane control and management system, an ergonomically designed operator’s tower cabin and a unique Liebherr anti-corrosion treatment. Further, each crane is equipped with a headset telephone system, a generator, a central lubrication system, a video monitoring system, an anti-collision system for the jib, a lightning rod and aircraft warning lights.
The SFSF project at Hamad Port, which stands on a 53-hectare area with an estimated cost of QR1.6bn, supports the country’s self-sufficiency plans and aims to create sustainable development for the coming generations. It is also a new addition to Hamad Port’s record of achievements, thus boosting its huge potential capabilities, modern facilities, and advanced systems for increasing Qatar’s trade with the world.
The set plans to complete the development and readiness stages of the SFSF have taken into account the latest and most advanced methodologies. The facilities constitute an independent terminal with a docking berth of 575m (quay wall) in length and 12.5m in depth; standalone and fully functional for unloading, storing, loading, transporting, processing, refining, and packing preparation of three main food commodities: sugar, rice, and edible oils; and includes a production line for animal feed ingredients.
In addition, this project is unique within the region with a storage capacity for a period of two years for the three main commodities, as it contains silos for long-term storage and huge warehouses with infrastructure and exceptional equipment to maintain such storage capacity to meet the needs of 3mn people, in accordance with relevant international standards.
