Construction of the temporary and permanent works in the Mubarak Al Kabeer port on Bubiyan Island is on schedule and bids are scheduled to be called for dredging work for the project in 2012, the MEED Kuwait Energy & Infrastructure Projects 2011 conference in Kuwait was told this morning.

This will entail creating a channel with depth of 14.5 metres, sufficient to accommodate the largest container ships.

“The project is on programme,” URS Scott Wilson technical director Richard Hoyes said. “We have completed about 20 per cent and the completion date for our work is 1 April 2014.” This will be followed by topside works including the installation of gantry cranes.

URS is the consultant for the temporary and permanent works in the project. The client is the Mega Projects Sector of Kuwait’s Ministry of Public Works. Hyundai and Kharafi National have the $1.2 billion contract for the temporary and permanent works.

Plans call for the port to start operating with capacity to handle 2 million TEUs in 2016.

The MEED Kuwait Energy & Infrastructure conference has been organised with KPC as supporting partner. NBK is strategic partner. Agility and Gulf Investment Corporation are silver sponsors; bronze sponsors are ABB, Al Tamimi & Company and Gulf Bank. Mashreq, Drake & Scull and Mushrif Trading & Contracting Company are lunch sponsors. The conference sponsor is Ducab. Hill International; Pitchmastic Middle East, Tekneen District Cooling & Utilities and WorleyParsons are exhibitors.

To follow the conference see: www.meedkuwaitprojects.com.