The 18-month contract involves deepening and dredging the port basin and channel to 14 metres from 8.5 metres, the construction of four container berths opposite the 21 existing berths and dredging of at least 6 million cubic metres of material. Sharjah-based Gulftainer Company is the container terminal consultant for Shuwaikh. The Netherlands' Royal Haskoning is the technical consultant. The client is Kuwait Ports Authority (KPA - MEED 11:11:05).

The dredging scheme is the largest element of KPA's port modernisation programme. A tender has recently been issued for the manufacture, supply and operations of bridge cranes for Shuaiba port. Four companies - Mitsui & Company and Mitsubishi Corporation, both of Japan, Finland's Konecranes and Switzerland's Liebher - have until 12 March to bid for the contract.