Qatar Port Management Company is getting ready to transfer all container terminal operations from the Port of Doha to the new Port of Hamad, German shipping major Hapag-Lloyd informed.
The Port of Hamad is expected to commence vessel operations, discharging and loading activities from December 1, 2016, according to the shipping company.
The Container Terminal 1 at the Port of Hamad has been opened for export containers from November 23, 2016, and operations will run for 24 hours daily.
The Port of Doha is expected to cease the acceptance of all vessel discharge and loading operations on November 30, 2016.
The terminal at the Port of Doha will close for export cargoes from November 26, 2016.
Located south of Doha, the Port of Hamad is part of the QAR 27 Billion (USD 7.4 Billion) New Port Project which also includes a new base for the Qatar Emiri Naval Forces and the Qatar Economic Zone 3, spanning a 26.5 square kilometer area.
On 24 December 2015, Hamad Port was officially opened for early partial operations.
The port will be fully operational with the opening of the Container Terminal 1, which is expected to handle 2 million containers per year.