PMC was selected as preferred bidder on an aggregate of technical and financial scores, following the opening of prices in mid-April. 'There remain numerous areas for negotiation with the Dutch firm over their technical submission,' says an official involved in the project. 'If we can't reach a compromise with PMC, we will go back to the Canadians.' Canada's Seaport Consultantsscored the highest on technical bids but also quoted the highest price.

In mid-May, the cabinet approved the extension of the temporary mandate of Overseas Port Management (OPM)to manage ACT until a new operator is appointed. OPM comprises employees of the Yeminvestventure, which withdrew in October 2003 from a long-term agreement to run the terminal in light of a slump in traffic.

The consultancy contract is due to last six months: the first three months will be devoted to drawing up terms of reference for the operator and the preparation of tender documents; the subsequent two months will see the selection of the operator; while during the final month the consultant will oversee the transition to the new management.

Expressions of interest (EoIs) have also been invited for consultancy contracts on two new ports at Mukallah and Hodaidah. As in Aden, the existing port at Mukallah has been swamped by the city's growth, putting a brake on infrastructure development and expansion. Doha has indicated a willingness to contribute $20 million to the Mukallah project to finance construction of a deepwater berth, which would supply aggregates to the Qatari construction market.

Other projects in train to develop local ports include improvements to Aden's sister port of Ma'alla, which handles smaller container vessels and non-container traffic, while YPA is also considering a completely new port at Qormih on Socotra island, for which the UK's High Point Rendelis drawing up a feasibility study and Kuwait's Pan-Arab Consulting Engineersis acting as lead consultant (MEED 12:3:04).