Dutch firm Bam International has submitted the lowest bid for the contract to expand the Saqr Port in Ras al-Khaimah, one of the UAE’s northern emirates.

The scope includes dredging, reclamation and the construction of quay walls and other related port facilities.

No date has been specified for the final contract award.

Other contractors that are understood to have submitted an offer for the contract include:

• Al-Nuaimi Group (local)
• Archirodon (Netherlands)
• Besix (Belgium)
• Dutco Balfour Beatty (local/UK)
• National Marine Dredging Company (local)
• Overseas AST (local)

Saqr Port has eight bulk-handling berths, three container-handling berths and one general purpose berths. It also has open storage areas in excess of 84 hectares, and 42,000 square-metres of covered storage.

It handles the majority of the 60 million tonnes of cargo handled annually by the Ras al-Khaimah (RAK) Ports.

RAK Ports operates and manages four other smaller ports in the emirate including Ras al-Khaimah Port, Al-Jazeera, Al-Jeer and RAK Maritime City.