International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI)'s Basra Gateway Terminal (BGT) in Um Qasr, Iraq, recently achieved a record berth turnaround with the 6,589-TEU vessel Yang Ming Mutuality.
BGT recorded a total of 1,768 moves on the YM Mutuality in 17.5 hours, achieving a record-bteaking berth productivity of 101 moves per hour, a first for BGT.
“Breaking the 100 moves per hour barrier is a testament of our commitment to deliver new service benefits to all our customers," commented Phillip Marsham, BGT CEO.
Recently, ICTSI invested US$250 million to expand the terminal's service delivery in all sectors of its operations – container, multi-purpose, ro-ro and heavy lift –
BGT East developed multiple new berths, offering a design depth of 14 meters alongside, served by five modern ship to shore cranes, enabling the handling of vessels of up to 14,000 TEU capacity.
The 600m berth at BGT East is supported on the landside by a fleet of 10 six high stacking rubber-tired gantries.
Notable investment outside the container sector has seen the comprehensive upgrade of the terminal’s ro-ro facilities including dedicated warehousing and secure areas as well as in specialised facilities to service the handling of project cargo for the oil and gas sector.
“We will continue to leverage our investments, including those in the training and advancement of the BGT team," emphasised Marsham.
The record servicing of the YM Mutuality represents a significant waypoint along the terminal's continuous improvement programme he added.
"BGT intends to play a leading role in consolidating and expanding the port of Umm Qasr’s position as Iraq’s premier maritime hub.”
In 2014, ICTSI signed a contract with the General Company for Ports in Iraq to manage, operate and rehabilitate terminal facilities in North Port Umm Qasr, Iraq and to develop and expand container handling capacity via new infrastructure development.
Iraq’s largest port and primary gateway, BGT is the only terminal in the country able to service container vessels of up to 14,000TEU capacity, so-called New Panamax dimension vessels.