Dredging Contract Awarded to MEDCO for New Port Project in Qatar

Doha, March 19 (QNA) - MEDCO (Middle East Dredging Company Q.S.C.) has been awarded a contract to dredge the approach channel for the 'New Port Project' in Qatar for the account of the New Port Project Steering Committee, under the Government of the State of Qatar. The contract also includes the dredging of the basin as well as the land reclamation for the Naval Base of approximately 400 ha and the construction of the two Outer Breakwaters at both sides of the Channel. The New Port is located between Al Wakrah and Mesaeed, South of Doha. According to (Qatar Exchange) website, the contract represents a value of about QR4,500,000,000. The 27 billion Qatari Riyal project as a major gateway to Qatar, includes the constructing of a New Port to serve future development expanding trade needs of Qatar for 2030 and beyond; it will cater for the expected growth in container traffic, it shall also accommodate for general cargo traffic, vehicle imports, livestock imports, bulk grain imports, offshore support vessels, cruise vessels, coastguard vessels and a marine support unit. A new Base for the Qatar Emiri Naval Forces will be built offshore of the New Port, providing berthing for Qatar's Navy and visiting naval vessels from around the world. The New Port will be developed in several phases to include three Container Terminals with a combined annual capacity in excess of six million containers per year and a Railway Station connected to the GCC Railway Network, thus ensuring connecting the New Port to neighboring Countries and opens horizons to serve the joint market of the Gulf States. The works will start in March 2012 and will be completed early 2016. MEDCO is a partnership between the Qatar Holding (Government of Qatar), Qatari company United Development Company (UDC), and DEME. (QNA)