KPA strives to upgrade ports, attract business

KUWAIT CITY, July 16: A recent government report revealed that the Shuwaikh Port development project is scheduled for completion in 2028, with the current implementation rate reaching 87 percent and the total project cost estimated at KD 165 million. The sources noted that the Kuwait Ports Authority (KPA) is making significant and accelerated efforts to achieve a leading position in the management and operation of maritime ports by providing advanced infrastructure and world-class logistics services. These efforts seek to transform Kuwaiti ports into a major hub linking the national economy with global markets.

According to the report, the main objective of the major development project is to enhance the port’s capacity to accommodate modern deep-draft container ships under all tidal conditions. The project includes improving the efficiency and safety of the navigation channel by increasing its depth to 12 meters, which will encourage international shipping lines to route their vessels to Shuwaikh Port. The development works will enable Shuwaikh Port to receive a larger number of modern container ships, and will include the establishment of a new semi-automated container terminal. The project also involves the rehabilitation and deepening of berths 1 through 7 to accommodate larger vessels and increase the port’s overall handling capacity.

The project will support both operational and tourism development by reorganizing activities and spaces within the port and constructing administrative buildings for relevant government and regulatory authorities. The project includes the establishment of an integrated customs inspection area to improve the efficiency and speed of operational procedures. The report also revealed that a state-of-the-art passenger terminal will be constructed to serve cruise ships arriving in Kuwait.

According to informed sources, the Shuwaikh Port development project will represent a major transformation, significantly increasing and diversifying the number of vessels the port can accommodate by raising its capacity to 1.7 million containers annually. The Shuwaikh Port expansion and development project is among the most important strategic projects under Kuwait’s development plan - New Kuwait 2035 vision - which aims to strengthen the country’s position on the regional and international maritime trade and transportation map.

By Najeh Bilal Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff