Sharjah’s Department of Seaports and Customs Authority has invited firms to bid by 26 June for the contract to build a new dhow wharfage facility at Mina Khalid, one of the emirate’s three ports.

The project is part of the port’s overall expansion programme.

In December 2016, Belgium-based Besix won a $150m contract to build a new berth at the Mina Khalid Port.

The scope of the contract includes dredging of the port basin and the construction of a cargo loading facility, a quay wall, marine rock revetment on the seaward perimeter of the reclamation area, and other related facilities. Besix is expected to complete the project before the end of 2018.

Department of Seaports and Customs is also expected to award the contract to retro-fit and expand one kilometre of quay wall at the port shortly.

According to sources with knowledge of the scheme, the client has undertaken and completed the evaluation of bids late last year.

Contractors that are understood to have submitted a bid for the contract include:

• DBB Contracting (local)
• Besix (Belgium)
• Bam International(Netherlands)
• China Harbour Engineering Company (China)