World Maritime News: The construction of Anaklia Deep Sea Port in the Black Sea Region is scheduled to start on December 20, 2017, the Anaklia Development Consortium (ADC) informed.
“Anaklia Port is a project of an unprecedented scale for our country… We started the preparatory works last year and promised to start the construction process in just a year… And now, the more important stage of the project begins – the port construction,” Mamuka Khazaradze, Co-founder/Partner of ADC, said.
The preparatory phase for the new port started in 2016. During this phase, ADC selected the US-based SSA Marine as the terminal operator for the port. The company will also be one of the port’s investors.
Additionally, the general plan for the port was prepared and approved, according to ADC. The plan was approved by the Government of Georgia in October 2017.
Moreover, Dutch marine engineering company Van Oord conducted pre-construction works including marine civil engineering, geotechnical, topographical, and other research. The environmental impact assessment document was also prepared.
One year ago, Georgia and ADC signed an investment agreement for the construction and operation of the USD 2.5 billion Anaklia Deep Sea Port. Under the deal, ADC has the exclusive right to build, develop and operate the port.
Expected to help establish a new maritime corridor from China to Europe, Anaklia Deep Sea Port will be constructed on about 400 hectares of land as the country’s government granted the ADC rights to use the land for a period of 52 years.
Once all nine phases under the framework of the project are completed, the port would have the capacity to serve 100 million tons of freight turnover.