Basra leads way in Iraqi port investment

International Container Terminal Services’ (ICTSI’s) second-phase investment in Iraq’s new container terminal infrastructure is underway at its Basra Gateway Terminal (BGT) at the Port of Umm Qasr.

On completion of the second-phase expansion by the third quarter of 2019, ICTSI will have invested more than $US250 million for a new berth, yard construction and handling equipment.

The staged expansion includes a 400-metre quay with a 14-metre draught alongside a 30-hectare yard area and a 15-hectare secure parking area.

Three post-Panamax ship-to-shore cranes will be installed along the quay, and seven rubber-tyred gantries (RTG) will provide stacking and handling power in the yard area.

The design is capable of handling container vessels of up to 9,000TEU, with an annual handling capacity of more than one millionTEU.

BGT completed the first phase of its terminal greenfield project in the first quarter of 2017. It included the construction of a 250-metre berth and a 15-hectare yard area for the safe and efficient handling of oil and gas project cargoes.

In January operations at Berth 21 introduced a dedicated roll-on, roll-off facility.