Accomplishments: Seaport
As important components of Iraq's economic infrastructure, the Umm Qasr Seaport and Iraq's airports are critical focal points for receiving goods, including humanitarian assistance. Effective port operations and the reconstruction of Baghdad and Basrah airports will allow food and other humanitarian and reconstruction materials and personnel to be delivered smoothly and efficiently. Transportation rehabilitation is the first step in providing assistance and restarting economic growth, allowing for importing and exporting and the transfer of people-helping to reconnect Iraq to the World.
The MV Banastar unloading grain at Umm Qasr's grain facility (USAID photo) |
- Umm Qasr reopened to commercial traffic June 17, and the first passenger vessel test was completed July 16.
- Since September:
- 109 ships entered the port and were processed by the Port Authority.
- More than 3,200 containers and 278,870 metric tons of rice and sugar food were unloaded.
- 61 roll-on roll-off ships were received
- 46.5 metric tons of goods were unloaded from smaller dhows.
- The first bulk cargo grain ship to arrive at Umm Qasr finished unloading 52,000 tons of grain on November 14. The newly refurbished grain-receiving facility moved the grain from the ship to dockside silos without major problems. A second grain ship is currently discharging its load of 52,185 tons of Australian wheat into the grain-receiving facility.
- Renovation of grain-receiving facility, which can process up to 600 metric tons of grain an hour, has been completed. Final turnover of the facility to Iraqi authorities is expected at the end of January.
- Port tariffs were applied on June 20, providing a revenue stream for the financial sustainability of port operations.
- Emergency wreck removal and dredging operations are completed, allowing all 21 berths to be available for deep-draft ships. Two Iraqi dredgers maintain the harbor.
- Generators have been installed, energizing all three 11-kV ring mains and restoring power to most parts of the port.
- Work is complete on security fencing at the old and new ports and grain facility.
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