DP World last week welcomed the first scheduled vessel to call at its new Container Terminal 3 in Jebel Ali, Dubai, as it gears up to serve customers at the state-of-the-art facility.

The APL Phoenix was welcomed by DP World Chairman, Mr Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Vice-Chairman, Mr Jamal Majid Bin Thaniah, Group CEO, Mr Mohammed Sharaf, Senior Vice-President and Managing Director, UAE Region, Mr Mohammed Al Muallem, Mr Prabhu G.K.N., Head of Operations and Network Management, Middle East and Africa Region at APL, and Capt. Moses Dogbeda Kodzitse, Master of APL Phoenix, together with senior representatives of other DP World customers.

Once fully operational next year, the world's most modern container terminal will add a further 4 million TEUs of capacity to the port, taking total handling capacity at Jebel Ali to 19 million TEUs. With its 21st century infrastructure and 18 metres draught, Terminal 3 gives Jebel Ali the ability to handle more of the new generation mega vessels, and as many as 10 ultra-large containerships (ULCSs) at the same time.

Terminal 3 represents innovation and technology, featuring 19 of the world's largest and most modern quay cranes remotely operated from a sophisticated control room off the quayside, in safety and comfort, largely by Emirati nationals, including females, who will also make up the majority of the 50 Automated Rail Mounted Gantry crane (ARMG) operations team, highlighted an official release.