UAE’s Gulftainer handles the 9,700-TEU CMA CGM Orfeo

Gulftainer’s Khorfakkan Container Terminal (KCT) in the Sharjah emirate region of the United Arab Emirate’s east coast has accommodated its biggest container ship so far, the 9,700-TEU CMA CGM Orfeo.

This comes amid a report that container traffic volumes are “much higher” in the first half of the year, owing to an increasing number of shipping lines choosing to call at the congestion-free KCT gateway to the UAE. Gulftainer general manager Peter Richards said in an AME Info report: “We have been pointing out for years that KCT is ideally placed, geographically, to save shipping lines time and money, especially since the terminal’s speedy performance ensures that large, expensive container ships would not spend much time berthing and working.” Helping the flow of box traffic is the minibridge to the Sharjah Inland Container Depot (SICD), to enable fast distribution to the UAE market. “Whilst other major terminals in the region are reeling from the impact of major congestion and experiencing severe delays in berthing, KCT continues to lead the way. We are delighted that this splendid new CMA CGM ship, the CMA CGM Orfeo, the largest ever to berth at KCT, was able to berth and depart on schedule,” KCT said.

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Bahamas’ Freeport Container Port undergoes major expansion

Work is continuing on the US$300 million Phase V expansion project at the Freeport Container Port in the Bahamas.

At a cost of $12 million the port is being equipped with an extra 14 container stacking blocks. This comes after the port took delivery in April of 15 new Noel straddle carriers for $15 million, bringing the number to 75.At the same time Freeport Harbour Company began refurbishment of berths 4 to 9 at the Lucayan Harbour. A report by Bahama Islands Info in Freeport said both projects are scheduled for completion in 2010.Dredging of the harbour was finished in January at a cost of $30 million.

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Santos buys Spar from Gorgon JV

Santos has bought up the interests in a majority of the undeveloped Carnarvon Basin Spar gas field offshore Western Australia.

Santos bought up 100 percent of the WA-4-R permit from the joint venture participants of the Chevron-led Gorgon liquefied natural gas (LNG) project. The terms and conditions of the sale were not disclosed. The permit contains the majority of the Spar gas field, which also extends into Santos’ 45 percent-owned and Apache-operated WA-13-L permit. The WA-13-L permit also contains the East Spar gas field, which first came on stream in 1996.The Spar gas field, is estimated to contain a gas resource of up to 600 petajoules with associated condensate of up to eight million barrels. Santos will be evaluating the development options for the field in the short to medium term. Santos said the participants of the joint venture have determined that the Spar field was unlikely to form part of their proposed LNG project.

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