Aqaba: Aqaba Container Terminal (ACT), the primary maritime gateway to Jordan and the Levant, has announced the introduction of a cutting-edge gantry crane worth $13 million. This advanced equipment is expected to streamline container operations between ships and the quayside, marking a significant step towards enhancing the port’s operational capabilities.
According to Jordan News Agency, the announcement was made at a ceremony attended by Nayef Hmeidi Fayez, Chairperson of the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA), Hussein Safadi, CEO of the Aqaba Development Corporation (ADC), and other dignitaries, officials, and company employees. The acquisition of this crane forms part of ACT’s comprehensive development strategy, following the recent renewal of its partnership with APM Terminals. This move underscores the port’s commitment to maintaining regional leadership and aligning with global logistics and shipping advancements.
Fayez emphasized the importance of the strategic partnership with APM Terminals, noting that the arrival of modern equipment reflects the strong cooperation in managing and operating the port. He highlighted that the upgrade to environmentally friendly equipment aligns with the Aqaba Port Authority’s strategy for 2024-2028, which aims to establish a green port as part of a broader vision for a green city in Aqaba. This strategy focuses on reducing carbon emissions, promoting alternative energy in operations, and enhancing Aqaba’s competitiveness as a regional logistics hub.
Safadi described the crane’s introduction as a strategic achievement that aligns with the vision to bolster Aqaba’s transport and logistics ecosystem. He noted that this development is a tangible advancement under the extended concession agreement with APM Terminals, which now extends through 2046. The agreement underscores the robust partnership and shared vision for the port’s future.
Adnan Yaqoubi, Executive Director of Operations at ACT, highlighted the transformative nature of the investment. Equipped with advanced technologies, the new gantry crane will expand port capacity and improve handling capabilities, allowing the port to accommodate the world’s largest container vessels while maintaining high standards of safety and efficiency. Standing at approximately 56 meters with a boom span of 71 meters, the crane has a lifting capacity of up to 100 tons. It includes features such as ship shape scanners, container positioning systems, vibration-reduction technology, and a self-diagnosing maintenance system. Operated remotely, the crane is supported by a comprehensive camera system, facilitating high-precision movements.
The crane’s arrival is part of ACT’s broader modernization initiative. Under the extended agreement between APM Terminals and the Aqaba Development Corporation, the terminal’s annual capacity is expected to increase by an additional 180,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs). The agreement also enables the port to accommodate vessels up to 400 meters in length, reinforcing Aqaba’s status as a strategic hub in regional and global supply chains.