Contractors have submitted bids for the phase two construction contract of the New Doha port project.

Phase two covers the dredging works, which involves dredging an access channel so that ships can reach the port (MEED 28:8:11).

The bidders are:

• Jan De Nul (Belgium)/China Harbour Engineering Company (China)
• Boskalis (Netherlands)/Van Oord (Netherlands)
• Dredging International (Belgium)/Medco (local)
• Great Lakes Dredge & Dock (US-based)
• Archirodon Construction (Geneva registered)/Huta Marine (Saudi Arabia)
• National Marine Dredging Company (UAE)

In January, China Harbour Engineering Company (Chec) won the $880m construction contract to carry out phase one of the project, which covers excavation works at the port, having submitted the lowest bid for the deal in July 2010. This was the first major construction deal to be awarded at the port (MEED 26:1:11).

Chec’s contract includes the excavation of 58 million cubic metres of material, covering an area of 3.2 square kilometres to a depth of 18 metres, the building of 8 kilometres of quay wall, and a 5km-long rubble breakwater.

The first phase will have a capacity of 2 million 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs), a 15-metre-deep approach channel, an eight-metre by 13.5-metre-deep harbour basin and berths for general cargo, including vessels from the Qatari and visiting navies.

Australia’s WorleyParsons is the engineering consultant on the project and US-based Aecom is the programme manager of the scheme.

The New Doha Port Steering Committee is the client.

The port project is crucial for the overall development of Qatar and its plans to host football’s World Cup in 2022. Between 2003 and 2008, there was an intense period of construction in Qatar as it built the facilities for the 2006 Asian Games, various real-estate schemes such as the Pearl Qatar and new gas infrastructure in Ras Laffan.

At that time, contractors said it was difficult to efficiently bring materials and equipment into Qatar as there was not enough capacity at the existing port in downtown Doha.