The Abu Dhabi Ports and China’s Cosco Shipping Ports joint venture has yet to award the contract for the marine works package on the planned second container terminal at Khalifa Port.

The package involves the construction of a 1 kilometre quay wall as well as for the deepening of the port’s main channel and basin.

MEED earlier reported that the bid evaluation process was  ongoing, with an award expected before the end of 2017.

MEED understands that the firms, which submitted a bid for the contract, include:

• Afcons Infrastructure (India)
• Bam International (Netherlands)
• China Harbour Engineering Company (China)
• National Marine Dredging Company (UAE)
• Hyundai Engineering & Construction (South Korea)
• Van Oord (Netherlands)

The scope of work for the contract entails deepening the main channel and basin from 16.5 metres to 18 metres as well as the construction of 1,000 metres of quay wall. The work is expected to be completed in mid-2018.

The preparatory work for the terminal is currently being undertaken by Abu Dhabi-based National Marine Dredging Company.

In November, Abu Dhabi Ports and Cosco awarded Beijing-based China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) a contract to upgrade the 1.2 kilometre-long container terminal at Khalifa Port.

The value of the contract was not disclosed. The scope includes mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) work to automate the terminal.

Once completed, Terminal 2 is expected to double Khalifa Port's existing capacity of 2.5 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), with a provision for an additional 1 million TEU depending on the success of the business model and the port’s growth.

Cosco signed a 35-year concession agreement with Abu Dhabi Ports in September 2016 for the construction, operation and maintenance of Khalifa Port’s Terminal 2. The contract is renewable for five years. It is valued at an estimated $738m

Abu Dhabi Terminals will continue to operate the Khalifa Port’s Terminal 1.