Trade Arabia reported that the Bahrain government has handed over the new Khalifa Bin Salman Port to APM Terminals.

APM Terminals, confirming the report said that it will complete the commissioning of the cranes and other equipment on site and then finalize the training of staff on the new equipment.

Mr Steen Davidsen MD of APM Terminals Bahrain said that “We look forward to this new stage in the privatization of Bahrain’s commercial port. During the past two years, we have operated Mina Salman to the highest possible standards, bearing in mind the limitations of the infrastructure there.”

He said that APM plans to launch its commercial operations at Khalifa Bin Salman Port on April 1st 2009. He added that "The first commercial vessel call is anticipated approximately one week later, and the first container vessel is planned to call within the second half of the month."

Mr Davidsen further said that "With the move to the new, purpose built facility, we intend to build on the progress which we have already made, and which the market in Bahrain has come to expect as a minimum standard of service."

He noted that "With the much larger and more modern port at Khalifa Bin Salman Port, we are in detailed discussions with a number of carriers about opportunities to harness Bahrain’s strategic location as a hub for transshipment services for the Upper Gulf."

(Sourced from TradeArabia News Service)