PR | The Ruler of Fujairah Inaugurates UAE’s First VLCC Jetty on Indian Ocean

The new VLCC Berth significantly enhances the Port of Fujairah’s commercial ability.

By The Gulf Intelligence

Image Attribute: Google Maps

• First VLCC Jetty on Indian Ocean Coastline of Arabian Peninsula  

• Port of Fujairah VLCC Jetty Cost $175 Million VLCC Jetty construction reclaimed over 10,250,000 square meters of land using more than 22 million tons of rock 

• VLCC Jetty to reach 26 metre deep-water draft necessary for VLCCs for a 24-hour marine operation. 

• The VLCC berth will enable the Port’s customers to load or discharge up to 2 million barrels of crude within 24 hours 

• The VLCC berth can facilitate tankers up to 344 meters long and up to a dead weight tonnage of 363,000 tonnes

Fujairah, UAE: September 21, 2016 – The Ruler of Fujairah today launches the UAE’s first very large crude carrier (VLCC) jetty on the Indian Ocean which will leverage the Port’s strategic position at the heart of rising energy trades along the South-South Corridor. The Port of Fujairah is strategically positioned at the heart of the booming energy trades along the South-South Corridor, which stretches from Beijing to Lagos. 

The VLCC Berth marks a key step in enabling the Port to evolve its offering. For example, China is the world’s second largest oil consumer, India is expected to be the fastest growing oil consumer up to 2040, while the Middle East could account for 18% of oil demand growth between 2015-2021. 

“The Port of Fujairah’s launch of the first VLCC Berth on the Indian Ocean is integral to supporting the UAE’s energy demands and keeping pace with what is an intensely competitive sector,” said H.H. Sheikh Saleh Bin Mohammed Bin Hamad Al Sharqi, Chairman of the Department of Industry and Economy, and Chairman of Port of Fujairah. “Since the Port started full operations in 1983, we have realized one ambitious goal after another and the new VLCC Berth illustrates our determination to continually elevate Fujairah and the UAE on the regional and international energy map.”  

Fujairah Government reclaimed over 10,250,000 square meters of land using more than 22 million tons of rock to reach the 26 metre deep-water draft necessary for VLCCs for 24 hours marine operation. The VLCC berth will enable the Port’s customers to load or discharge up to 2,000,000 barrels of crude oil within 24 hours and can facilitate tankers up to 344 meters long and up to a dead weight tonnage of 363,000 tonnes. The total cost is AED 650 million.

Image Attribute:  The Liberian-flagged oil tanker MV Sirius Star. U.S. Navy photo by Aviation Warfare Systems Operator 2nd Class William S. Stevens (Released)

“The new VLCC Berth significantly enhances the Port of Fujairah’s commercial ability and is a necessary step in ensuring that the Port, which already operates a unique Matrix Manifold System linking all terminals continues to be recognized as a world-class facility, enhancing the UAE’s position as one of the most influential players in the global energy market,” said Captain Mousa Murad, General Manager, Port of Fujairah.  

The Port is well-positioned to facilitate rising oil and gas volumes as the US’ Energy Information Administration (EIA) expects global energy consumption to climb by 48% by 2040. The Port is already the world’s second largest bunkering hub, and from catering for 550,000 cubic metres of storage from 8 tanks in 1994 is now today catering for nearly 10,000,000 cubic metres from 338 tanks. Plans to increase storage capacity to 14 million cubic meters by 2020 are underway. In the last nine years, Fujairah’s Oil Tanker Terminals have grown from three berths handling 400 vessels a year and two storage facilities with an annual throughput of 7 million tonnes to nine berths, and over 2,230 vessels in 2015 for 12 storage facilities, with total throughput around 56 million tonnes.