Tartous Port General Company (TPGC) is evaluating proposals from international groups for the 10-year build-operate-transfer (BOT) contract to operate the container terminal at Tartous port.

Bidders include Kuwait & Gulf Link Transport Company (KGL), International Container Terminal Services (ICTS) of the Philippines and Terminalink, a subsidiary of France?s CMA CGM. The contract may offer the successful bidder the option of a five-year extension An award is expected by the end of June. The terminal currently has capacity to handle 500,000-600,000 containers a year.

TGPC is also evaluating prequalifications for a 35-year BOT contract to build and operate two new quays at the port. The quays will have lengths of 470 metres and 266 metres and two roll-on, roll-off (ro-ro) berths. Prequalifiers are understood to include Fouad Takla and United Builders Corporation (UBC), both local. The existing port has 22 berths.

Other development projects at the port include plans for a mixed-use tourist complex and the upgrade of yard six. Covering a 6,000-square-metre area, the complex will involve the construction of a hotel, restaurants, a conference centre and car parking facilities. TGPC is seeking an investor to develop the remaining area of yard six, covering a 750,000-square-metre area.

Denmark?s Kampsax was appointed in February 2004 by the European Investment Bank to support the restructuring of TPGC (MEED 23:9:05).