Logistics

Gulftainer’s Florida terminal opens

The first cargo movement at the new terminal

UAE-based Gulftainer’s new Canaveral Cargo Terminal at Port Canaveral in Florida, USA, which has officially opened after the signing of a 35-year deal with the local port authority, expects to contribute more than $630 million to the local economy and create 2,000 direct and indirect jobs when fully developed.


The terminal, which will be operated by GT USA, the US arm of Gulftainer, has strategic plans to triple its container cargo capacity from 200,000 teu now to 750,000 teu, an official statement said without giving details about when the expansion was likely to begin.


Gulftainer is a subsidiary of UAE-based conglomerate Crescent Enterprises, a rapidly expanding, ports and logistics company.


The company’s ties with the shipping company CMA CGM were underlined with one of its vessels, the CMA CGM Jamaica, making a maiden call at the terminal before sailing across the Atlantic to Europe with cargo of 4,298 teu.


Days earlier, Gulftainer welcomed the company’s largest container vessel at its Khorfakkan Container Terminal in Sharjah, the CMA CGM Kerguelen, which has total capacity of 17,722 teu.


Badr Jafar, CEO of Crescent Enterprises and chairman of Gulftainer, stated at the launch ceremony: “Container shipping is a $6 trillion industry that touches 95 per cent of the world’s manufactured goods, and we are determined to bring much more of that business to Port Canaveral in the months and years to come. What our experience has shown us, time and time again, is that a well-run port can be a huge catalyst for economic growth and development, and we look forward to working with the Canaveral Port Authority and the local community to ensure that this facility becomes an indispensable part of global supply chains.”


Peter Richards, GT USA’s CEO and managing director, Gulftainer Group, remarked: “This new state-of-the-art facility is ready to get to work with two berths, two cranes and 20 acres of land already developed. In Gulftainer’s partnership with the Canaveral Port Authority, it is our policy to partner with the entire community and we hope to make this a world-class container terminal servicing the Florida region, the nation and beyond.”


Canaveral Port Authority Commission chairman Jerry Allender opened the ceremony by saying, “the United Arab Emirates and the United States have fostered great partnerships in trade, culture, and education. Today represents one example of our nations’ great partnership.”


UAE ambassador to the US Yousef Al Otaiba said bilateral trade between the UAE and US grew almost 80 per cent since 2005 and that last year the US benefited from a $19 billion trade surplus with the UAE, and was the largest market for US goods and services in the region.


The new terminal provides an excellent connection to central Florida’s bustling consumption centres and growing number of distribution centres. The terminal is able to turn around cargo imported into Port Canaveral to the Orlando area within one hour, the fastest transit time when compared to other container terminals in the state.


Gulftainer operates and manages ports and logistics businesses in several countries including the UAE, Iraq, Pakistan, Brazil, Lebanon, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and the United States.