Suez terminal benefits from upgrades

Against a background of struggling volumes and a 20% drop in ship numbers transiting the Suez Canal, the Suez Canal Container Terminal (SCCT) showed an unexpected 11% rise to a record 2.7m teu in 2009.

Operator APM put the increase partly down to the terminal’s willingness to install sophisticated scanning equipment which helped turnaround times, and a dredging project which deepened the terminal’s draught from 13.9 metres to 14.5 metres.

On completion in 2012, Phase II of the terminal’s expansion will raise capacity to 5.4m teu, and a planned rail link to the greater Cairo area is further expected to boost local cargo traffic through the terminal.

(Source: Port Strategy)