Abu Dhabi's Khalifa Port handles record number of containers

Khalifa Port Container Terminal, managed and operated by Abu Dhabi Terminals (ADT), recently set a new productivity record by handling more than 2,600 moves in just under 13 hours.

The record was set moving containers on the CMA CGM Thames, a tanker with the capacity to carry 9,365 containers. The ship called into Khalifa Port on July 21.

Port operators set an operational productivity record of 206 Berth Moves per hour (BMPH), a standardized shipping industry metric.

This is the first time ADT has crossed the of 200 BMPH, and maintaining such high levels of productivity is one of the key factors that drive up the port’s value to shipping lines. It’s also an important mark for port operators to hit to maximize efficiency, and increase terminal throughput and capacity.

“This productivity record is the result of excellent collaboration and planning by both CMA CGM and ADT operational teams,” Simon Brebner, chief commercial officer at ADT, said. “[Khalifa Port Container Terminal] ranks among the top five in Europe, Middle East and Africa with regards to port productivity, and this record expresses continued confidence in ADT’s ability to perform and maximize value for our customers.”

Claude Lebel, CMA CGM’s Gulf Region senior vice president in Dubai, said such a fast turnaround is essential for keeping traffic flowing in and out of the port. The total number of containers handled by ADT during the first half of 2015 increased by 36 percent compared to same period in 2014.