DPI Terminals handles first vessel at Asia Container Terminals (ACT), Hong Kong

Notes and media contacts

For further information please contact:

Dubai

Bell Pottinger Communications
Tom Mollo
+971 4367 2256

London

Bell Pottinger Communications
Robin Tozer
+44 7887 721 295
+44 207 861 3891

About Dubai Ports

Dubai Ports (which comprises Dubai Ports Authority (DPA) and DPI Terminals (DPI)) has been at the forefront of Dubai's extraordinary transformation into one of the world's leading trade and commerce hubs. DPA is focused on the home ports at Rashid and Jebel Ali which DPI formed in 1999 (as Dubai Ports International) to export this success internationally. DPI initially applied its expertise to managing ports in the Middle East, India and Europe. Its first project was at Jeddah Islamic Port (in 1999), where it collaborated with its local partner on the management and operation of the South Container Terminal (SCT). In 2003, SCT was the first terminal in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to exceed 1 million TEU and volumes in 2004 exceeded 1.3 million TEU. DPI then went on to develop successful operations at the ports of Djibouti (2000), Vizag, India (2002) and Constanta, Romania (2003).

In January 2005 DPI transformed its network with the strategic acquisition of CSX World Terminals (CSX WT), the international terminal business of CSX Corporation, renaming itself DPI Terminals to reflect the change. This acquisition gave DPI a strong presence in Asia with major operations in Hong Kong and China as well as operations in Australia, Germany, Dominican Republic and Venezuela. Importantly for the future development and expansion of its network, DPI also acquired CSX WT's strong project pipeline.

One cornerstone project, which underlines DPI's position as a major player in Asia, is the development of Pusan Newport, South Korea. DPI has a 25% interest in and management contract for this 9-berth facility, which will have a capacity of 5.5 million TEU. It is currently under construction and is expected to be operational by 2006.

Other significant projects will strengthen the network with further developments in India and the Middle East. In February 2005 DPI signed an agreement with the Cochin Port Trust (CoPT) to construct, develop and operate an international container transshipment terminal at Vallarpadam, Kochi, India. It is the largest single operator container terminal currently planned in India and the first in the country to operate in a special economic zone. The new terminal will make Kochi a key centre in the shipping world reducing India's dependence on foreign ports to handle transshipment.

In March 2005, DPI was awarded a 30 year concession to develop and operate the container terminal at the Port of Fujairah, in the UAE. This concession will enable DPI to streamline operations at the major container facilities of the UAE, and further increase the choices available to its customers. In June 2005 DPI was short listed as preferred bidder to operate the container terminal at the Port of Aden.

DPI also has interests in logistics businesses in Hong Kong and China, notably ATL, the market leading logistics operator based at Kwai Chung, Hong Kong.