Mubarak inaugurates first electronic harbor in Egypt
Egypt, Economics, 12/21/2004

Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak yesterday opened new Damietta electronic harbor, some 8,5 kilometers to Damietta branch of the River Nile.

The harbor is the first in Egypt to be operated electronically. It also establishes a link to exchange shipping information with other harbors.

The President was welcomed by the Minister of Transportation, Essam Sharaf, Cabinet ministers and the Damietta Port Authority board chairman, Ibrahim Youssef.

President Mubarak then drew the curtains of a picture of Damietta Port to inaugurate the new harbor.

The President listened to a presentation on the services provided and the access to information and files made available by the new harbor electronically.

The presentation also covered the security monitoring system at the port, which aims at ensuring safety.

There is a 4.5 km-long canal link between the Nile River and Damietta, Trains run alongside the berths.

The port has been divided into sub-harbors, quays and berths to facilitate throughout.

The complex was built on 3.2 million square meters, including a petrochemicals berth, a container berth, a general cargo berth, a cement quay, a grains berth, and a multipurpose berth.

The first-class transshipment port can accommodate a new generation of large container vessels now that berths have been dredged to a depth of 14.5 meters and new container handling equipment introduced.

In addition, vessels can discharge at any time. Vessels transiting the Suez Canal can use Damitetta Port without any deviation, which saves quite a lot of time for main liners.

Minister of Transportation, Essam Sharaf, announced in a speech he delivered on the occasion that a comprehensive upgrading phase was carried out at Damietta Port.

"New Damietta port will add to Egypt and the world a new modern harbor that is operated with the latest information and communications technical know how," he told the gathering.

He added that a troubleshooting company for harbors was established to operate the system installed in Damietta Port.

The total costs of the project hit about LE 190 million which is totally covered from the revenues of the Damietta port Authority, which makes the project a one without debts, Sharaf said, adding that the harbor provides 31,000 jobs.

President Mubarak then watched a documentary featuring the stages of upgrading the harbor since it was established and the service it provides.

Ibrahim Youssef said the total areas of the port now is 11.8 square kilometers, water area 3.9 sq km and land area 7.9 sq km.

President Mubarak then embarked on a tour of the new harbor to inspect the upgrading on the ground. He also inspected the Electronic Operation Department building. The President lauded the big progress at the port.

Previous Stories:
  President Hosni Mubarak opens new harbor in eastern Port Said today   (12/2/2004)
  Egypt -Jordan talks on economic trade and investment   (10/26/2002)
  Mubarak to inaugurate Al Sukhna harbour and five new factories   (10/26/2002)

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