11-12. NovDec 2021 issue.qxp_Pages-12-40-JanFeb WPD 13/12/2021 16:21 Page 28
port construction
Claire Instone delivers this month’s port construction editorial…
F
rom dredging to capital improvement plans, our final port construction article of 2021 gives readers an overview of recent activity relating to port expansion and growth, not just in terms of construction of major new terminals but investments across the supply chain.
Port expansion * Dublin Port has announced the launch of a €400m (approx. £336m) expansion. The 3FM Project will deliver 20% of the port capacity required by 2040 as well as a new bridge across the Liffey. Works will kick off in 2026 with completion cited between 2030 and 2035. The project, which is currently at the pre-planning stage, includes a number of elements such as a new private road to link the north and south port areas (taking HGVs off the public road via a new bridge across the River Liffey), construction of the largest container terminal in the country with an annual capacity of 612,000 TEUs, redevelopment of the existing blue container terminal to create a new Ro-Ro freight terminal in its place, and creation of a 325m-diameter ship turning circle. Dublin Port will have invested around €1.6 billion over a 30-year period from 2010 to 2040. * With the aim of supporting the UK’s supply chain, manufacturing, and renewable energy sectors, Associated British Ports (ABP) plans to develop over 1,000 acres of land. A total of 14 sites at ports including Cardiff, Immingham, Newport, Port Talbot, Southampton, and Hull will be developed for a range of business uses. The company has committed to spending more than £5 million over the next year and a half in order to make the sites ready for development, from obtaining the relevant planning consents to carrying out essential land preparation. “Our ports - with their superb connectivity both domestic and internationally, together with established infrastructure - already play a key role in the UK manufacturing, supply chain and energy sectors,” said Henrik L. Pedersen, Chief Executive Officer for ABP. “This initiative will enable a growing number of businesses to leverage our land, property partnering expertise and power capacity. We believe this can make a significant contribution to the country’s economic vibrancy and supply chain efficiency.”
engineering
Port construction round-up
GES NorthEast render.
Funding and budgets * The Port of Seattle Commission has passed its 2022 Budget and 2022-2026 Capital Improvement Plan. “Our budget and capital improvement plan reflect a rising recovery from increased activity,” said Steve Metruck, Port of Seattle Executive Director. “More than 80% of the port’s funds come from operating revenue and fees, which began to improve midway through last year. Despite some continued uncertainty, we are in a better position to begin investing in our own capacity after two years of steep cuts and to look more expansively at opportunities we can support in the region.” The port marked major capital milestones in 2021, in particular with the Northwest Seaport Alliance’s planned completion of Terminal 5. In 2022, the port will begin preparing for its next period of record growth for capital projects. The total capital budget for 2022 is USD559.5 million and the five-year Capital Improvement Programme increases to USD4.4 billion. Projects include Terminal 46 North Pier structure replacement, Terminal 91 Berths 6 & 8 redevelopment, Pier 66 shore power, and Terminal 91 uplands development. New facilities * Plaquemines Port - the 13th largest tonnage port in the US - and APM Terminals have announced an operating agreement following a six-month terminal review process setting the stage for a new state-of-the-art deep-water port and supply chain network. A recently released Letter of Intent states APM Terminals will become the operator of the newly planned container and intermodal rail facility. Plaquemines Port and their partners
will manage the financial activities associated with the infrastructure development, investment, and ownership of the port. Located on the Mississippi River just 50 nautical miles from the Gulf of Mexico, the gateway port will enable exporters and importers to utilise the multimodal routing options of rail, truck, inland marine and air. Phase One is expected to last two years and will deliver the capability to accommodate 22,000-TEU class vessels. * Maersk Saudi Arabia is in line to set up the first integrated logistics park at Jeddah Islamic Port. At 205,000sqm, the greenfield facility will offer customers an extensive infrastructure for warehousing and distribution, cold storage, e-commerce and serve as a hub for trans-shipments, petrochemical consolidation, air freight and less than container load cargo. The initiative involves a commitment of USD136 million over a period of 25 years. Maersk will also be investing heavily in renewable energy to power the new facility and eventually achieve carbon-neutrality. “The strategic partnership between the port authority and Maersk is an important step to achieve our ambition for Jeddah Islamic Port to become among the top ten ports in the world by 2030, with the volume of container handling reaching 18 million TEUs,” stated Omar bin Talal Hariri, President, Saudi Ports. * The Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has stated that the Lekki Deep Sea Port is due to become operational in the third quarter of 2023. When completed, the facility is cited to be the most modern port in West Africa. The Governor has called upon
November/December 2021 World Port Development
43
