The Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) has struck a container services agreement with Mwani Qatar, which will see MSC use Hamad harbour as a regional hub for transhipment from January 2020.
The container giant will manage up to 150 000 TEUs per year at the Qatari port, with operations growing to an estimated one million TEUs by 2023.
Speaking at the announcement of the deal, Jassim Saif Ahmed Al Sulaiti, Qatar transport and communications minister, said the agreement would help position Qatar as a global shipping hub.
“The agreement also enhances the competitiveness of Qatar and Hamad port on the regional and international maritime transport map, as it will help attract more transhipment containers as well as encourage more international shipping lines to add Hamad to their regional routes and sign similar agreements in the future,” Al Sulait said.
Bjorn Vorster
