INTERNATIONAL Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) has been awarded a 10-year concession through an international tendering process, to operate the Tartous container terminal located in southern Syria.
A statement from ICTSI said Tartous has become the first port in Syria to allow an overseas company to operate one of its container terminals. ICTSI noted that the move comes at a time when many analysts are forecasting sustained strong growth in container handling operations in Syria and the region as a whole.
"The Syrian container market has seen double digit growth since 2000, and ICTSI is very pleased to be at the centre of this dynamic new market and the pioneering port privatisation initiative in Tartous, the first of its kind in the country," said ICTSI chairman and chief executive officer, Enrique Razon, at the signing ceremony in Lattakia.
Located on the North Quay's Pier B, the Tartous container terminal comprises 540 metres of quay length, an alongside draft depth of 12-13 metres, and a 250,000 square metre terminal area. Operations are scheduled to commence in early 2007.
Headquartered in the Philippines, ICTSI develops, manages and operates container terminal on six continents worldwide.
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