Sturrock

Beira emergency dredging works to start in July 2010

PRESS RELEASE

Maputo, Thursday 10 June, 2010

CFM, Mozambique Ports and Railways, has the pleasure to announce that Emergency Dredging of the access channel to the Port of Beira, the berth and turning basins of the port itself, as well reclamation works for the future coal terminal, are due to start in July 2010.

The project has a budget of approximately 43 million Euros, of which 23 million will be financed by a loan secured by Government from the European Investment Bank, 10 million Euros will be Provided by CFM 'own funds' and 10 million Euros will be donated by the ORET Fund of Netherlands.

The work will be carried out by Van Oord Dredging and Marine Contractors bv of Netherlands who won the international tender for the works and whose contract became effective on the 24th of March 2010.


The works will be supervised by CFM with assistance from its consultant, DHV of Netherlands. CFM will receive financial support from the Embassy of Netherlands in Maputo to cover half of the cost of this technical assistance.


Once the dredging works have been completed, the Beira access channel will have been restored to a minimum depth of 8 meters below Charts Datum and even 9.2 meters in the critical "Macuti Bend", and a minimum width of between 135 and 200 meters.


Furthermore, the project includes land reclamation in an area to the North of the present port area, where a new Coal Terminal will be constructed. The new terminal will replace the existing terminal at quay number 8.

By restoring the channel to the depths and widths to which it was originally dredged, the Port of Beira will once again be able to receive vessels of up to PANAMAX size (up to 60.000 DWT") and will be able to service its clients safely 24 hours a day. Currently the port can only receive vessels of up to 30.000 DWT, and only during day-time; thus imposing severe constraints in the transport chain and hampering port operations.

Once the emergency dredging project has been completed, it will be the responsibility of EMODRAGA E.P. to maintain the access channel, and this company is therefore being equipped with the material and human resources necessary for undertaking this responsibility.