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The Port of Fujairah is one of the best seaports in
the Middle East and the No. 4 in the Gulf in container
handling. According to the latest statistics, the
port rated No. 67 globally in container handling.
Construction
of the port started in 1978 in order to cope with
the economic development in the Emirate. It was completed
in 1980, but actual operation of the port commenced
in 1983.
The
port lies outside the Strait of Hormuz, overlooking
the Arabian Sea which is famous for its deep waters.
In view of that, waters outside the port are as deep
as 17 metres, an advantage which makes it possible
for visiting ships to anchor as close as half nautical
mile to the port. The water surrounding the port are
free from natural obstructions such as coral reefs
and rocks.
The
strategic position of the port, which is regarded
as the Eastern Gate of the UAE as well as its location
midway between the East and West, helped to attract
many international shipping firms. The proximity of
the seaport to the Fujairah International Airport
was a positive factor for the rise in transhipment
operations.
In
addition to that the Fujairah Port, on the threshold
of the 21st century, is undergoing dramatic expansions.
Apart from rising the length of its wharfs to 1,400
metres, work is in progress to set up new wharfs for
refilling purposes as Fujairah has now become an important
bunkering depot in the region. The development plan
also involves raising the warehousing capacity to
half a million sq.meters within the next five years
in order to cope with expected rise in the volume
of handled containers.
Phase
one of the computerisation programme is completed
as all Departments are now linked by a computer network.
Computerisation helped saving time and improving efficiency,
particularly in container handling. The next phase
of the computerisation programme is scheduled to be
completed within the next two years which will result
in better performance and higher productivity.
The
port is provided with modem equipment of high technology
to accommodate the increasing size and number of containers.
Six gantry cranes have already been installed to serve
the wharves, in addition to the other advanced cranes
at the containers yard.
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