Khorfakkan performs record 8,816 moves on 'CMA CGM Aquila'

The moves were achieved at a productivity rate in excess of 200 container moves per hour, and the 'CMA CGM Aquila', which arrived at KCT on the evening of Thursday 6 August 2009, was able to depart on the morning of Saturday 8 August, ahead of schedule.

This record number of container moves comes not long after the KCT team managed to achieve an amazing, record-breaking productivity rate of 295 moves per hour, and serves to strengthen KCT's position as one of the world's leading transhipment ports, and probably the number 1 port in the world in terms of productivity.

Speaking of the impressive performance, Gulftainer Group Director & General Manager Peter Richards, said:

"We are proud and pleased with this new record move-count at Khorfakkan, which serves to highlight our commitment to delivering the best, most cost-effective terminal and transport services in the region. Now more than ever shipping lines are looking for fast, efficient turnover, and KCT continues to deliver the best service possible."

The 'CMA CGM Aquila', built in 2009, is one of the ever-growing number of large container ships that are becoming increasingly prevalent. At 11,356 teu, it is also one of the largest ships ever to call at a UAE port. KCT's impressive performance with the vessel, and with others of its size, can be partly attributed to the expansion that the terminal is currently undergoing.

Richards says, "KCT is known for its efficient, speedy performance, and the recent addition of two new gantries is already paying off as we have been able to increase our productivity even further. We have proven time and again that we are well equipped to deal with the increasing size of container vessels, and I am confident that as the expansion is completed and even more new equipment is introduced, this will be more true than ever."

KCT is one of the world's leading container transhipment ports, and is strategically located on Sharjah's Indian Ocean east coast, outside the sensitive Straits of Hormuz, close to the main east-west shipping routes. Only three hours from the UAE's main centres of population, Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi, KCT is an ideal transhipment hub port with numerous feeder ship connections to Gulf Ports, Iran, India, Pakistan and East Africa.

In recent years, KCT has been increasingly recognised not only for its ideal location, but also for its efficiency and productivity, and this latest achievement is sure to bolster its reputation even further.