Ports Assessments
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WFP has completed assessment of the following Kuwait ports:
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Shuaiba,
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Shuwaikh and
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Doha.
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UK Maritime Trade Operation – Dubai has issued assessment of the state of the two south Iraqi ports:
“Khoz Az Zubayr is a compact port facility with a well-defined security perimeter and a well-planned internal layout. This layout is one of the principal support factors that could make ISPS accreditation a possibility.
A team of former Danish police officers, with extensive experience of Iraq provide security support to Maersk and to the port.
- Resources are scarce, cranes, forklifts etc.
- Portable generators provide electrical power to the port.
- Many of the berths are encumbered by wrecks or require extensive dredging.
The CPA inspired tender process to replace Maersk is very late affording no time for the degree of due diligence normally expected in such a process.
Following discussion with the IPA over a bridging contract between 30th June and 31st August, Maersk advises, “agreement has been reached subject to final formalities”.”
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Umm Qasr
“The situation, in commercial terms in Umm Qasr, is far from encouraging.
The IPA is inexperienced in port management, dealing with shipping companies, shipping agents and so on.
Systems in place before the war in Iraq were changed fundamentally when SSA Marine were awarded the management contract and those IPA personnel with previous experience are facing a steep learning curve to bring themselves back up to speed.
They have less than a month in which to acquire this experience after which the SSA advisors will be gone.
Port planning has been identified (by SSA and the CPA) as a problem area with anecdotal evidence put forward to suggest that Iraqi port management is currently incapable of planning more than 3 days ahead for berth allocation and cargo handling.
The system is riddled with corruption, which may be one of the reasons for this inability (or unwillingness) to commit further ahead.
Resources are scarce, cranes, fork lifts etc., and while the power supply was operating in the new port during my visit it is still prone to periodic outages.
The CPA inspired tender process to replace SSA Marine is very late affording no time for the degree of due diligence normally expected in such a process.
The ‘dead period’ between the 30th June and the 11th August, when coupled with the recent insurance (WRP) penalties for ships calling in Iraq will deter many operators who may find it easier and cheaper to trans-ship from Kuwait or, as the World Food Programme (WFP) are considering, via Bandar Imam Khomeini (Iran).”
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