Qatar Ports Management Company (Mwani Qatar) has signed an agreement to acquire one cargo and one container ship from Malaysian shipbuilding firms.

The ships are to be built under the supervision of NK, the Japanese ship classification society.

The ships, measuring 64 and 68 metres, are expected to be delivered over the next few months.

Mwani, which will own and manage the ships, did not provide the name of the Malaysian companies that will build the vessels.

The recent closure of maritime space to Qatar by the Saudi-led states could push Qatar to expedite plans to expand the port’s capacity.

Australia’s Worley Parsons has submitted the lowest bid for the design and masterplan of the second phase of Hamad Port and it is understood that an award is imminent.

Proposals have also been under evaluation for the contract to deepen the access channel serving the port from 16 metres to 18 metres so that it is the same depth as the port basin.