UAE’s Gulftainer wins Tripoli Port bid

Operator to be awarded 25-year contract

UAE-based firm Gulftainer has won a bid for the management of the Port of Tripoli. “The tender was opened and Gulftainer made the most convenient offer,” sources at the Port of Tripoli said.

The tender results will be referred to the Minister of Public Works and Transportation for approval.
Once its offer is approved, the company will be awarded a 25-year Build, Operate, and Transfer (BOT) contract to finance, design, procure, build, operate, and maintain civil works and buildings at the port.

Gulftainer had won the tender to operate the port two months ago, but the results were disregarded at the time in the absence of competition.

A statement released by the Sharjah-based company said Gulftainer will invest around $60 million in infrastructure upgrades as a start. “When complete, the Gulftainer Terminal in Tripoli will provide more than 300 new jobs.” The company said it “will be investing substantial resources and efforts into establishing what is required to improve performance levels and bring new business to the region.” It said that it can now link Tripoli to its facilities in Iraq through its in-house logistics company Momentum.