Neville Bissett, CEO, QTerminals • Interview
QTerminals is responsible for enabling Qatar’s imports and exports, its maritime trade flows, and stimulating economic growth locally and regionally.
What can you tell us about CT2 expansion plan and the new capacities it will bring for Qatar?
Expansion in CT2 will be carried out in four phases. Phases 1 and 2 are completed and currently operational with an additional 1 million TEU capacity. They include 624m of quay length and three STS cranes, 12 hybrid battery-type RTGs, and 22 fully electric terminal tractors. With the completion of Phases 3 and 4 as and when the market dictates, CT2 will add a total of 2 million TEU annual capacity. CT1 and CT2 will have a combined capacity of 4 million TEUs annually. The expansion of CT2 will be an enabler for achieving Qatar’s National Vision 2030. Future CT2 expansion will also supplement organic economic growth in Qatar. Hamad Port will facilitate the growth in the ports and logistics sector and will meet all customers’ needs. QTerminals has made steady progress since the commencement of its operations, and CT2 Terminal has consolidated QTerminals’ position as the main gateway for foreign trade by ensuring availability of adequate capacity and delivering the highest levels of productivity and efficiency. CT2 has won the confidence of local importers/exporters as well the international shipping lines. The compound annual growth rate of container volume of Hamad Port from 2017 to 2020 is 16%. CT2 has also seen significant growth in volume through handling transhipment containers.
As operations increase at a rapid pace at Hamad Port, what is the role of efficiency, sustainability, and innovation in the management of the port’s daily activity?
By offering our customers the highest levels efficiency at quayside, we can ensure lower vessel turnaround times, increased capacity at terminal, and greater confidence to use Hamad Port as a recovery port. Continuous improvement is part of our DNA. Various innovative projects have been and will continue to be implemented to improve efficiency sustainably, not only in how we handle our cargo, but also in delivery and the whole supply chain. We have increased the gate and yard efficiency by using automation, eliminating the need for paper. We have also introduced RFID tagging and a truck appointment system. The Single Window System has enabled interaction with customers, meaning faster and more efficient exchange of information. We have also introduced Remote Control Operating STS and RTG stack profiling, which not only significantly improve safety, but also increase productivity across the yard. Hamad Port operational efficiency in terms of quicker vessels turnaround time and cargo handling productivity are of the highest standards. QTerminals has been investing in advanced technologies to improve synergies throughout the port to ensure transactions are completed seamlessly and remotely wherever possible. Consistent with the development of Hamad Port, QTerminals has ensured uninterrupted high levels of operation, ensuring our world-class safety standards are our focus. QTerminals has successfully renewed its ISO 9001, 14001, and 45001 certifications, which is further testimony to our continuous and sustainable improvement and our implementation of the highest international standards in all our operations and process.
QTerminals is expanding its presence in other countries such as Turkey and Ukraine. What can we expect in the near future in terms of overseas investments by the company, and how does this fit into Qatar’s strategy to become a logistics hub?
In 2021, QTerminals completed the purchase of the Port of Akdeniz in Antalya, Turkey. During 2020, we concluded the 35-year concession agreement for the Port of Olvia in Ukraine. QTerminals Olvia LLC is fully on course assume full management and operations of the Port of Olvia after completion of the transition period. QTerminals continues to meet its strategic objective to be a global port operator.