Regions for Port and Maritime Consultancy ~ Middle East

The juxtaposition between modern day UAE, and the biblical Old City of Sana (in Yemen) could not be greater.

We are regular visitors to Dubai where we maintain very friendly contacts, and we frequently illustrate best practice on a number of issues with reference to Dubai. The projects we have worked on in the Middle East follow:

Establishment of Ferry and Water Taxi Company, Abu Dhabi City, UAE

Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority (ADWEA) wished to investigate the feasibility of establishing a company to provide ferry and water taxi services forAbu Dhabi City and its surrounding islands. It therefore commissioned Fisher Associates, in association with Atkins and BMT Nigel Gee, to prepare a feasibility study on establishing ferry and water taxi services. (2010)

The methodology included:

• Market Assessment to identify possible passenger uptake based on specific projects and developments located in the area.
• Technical Assessment to evaluate and sift a range of options, ensuring that the preferred operations have been properly tested against alternatives.
• Business Strategy setting out the key strategic choices and options.
• Financial and Economic Appraisal with a sensitivity analysis.
• Recommendations on preferred options and key risks.

Building Materials Port, Bahrain

Bahrain's economy experienced record levels of investment in 2008 due to the high level of oil prices, which provided Middle East investors with funds for real estate projects and infrastructure development. This led to a chronic shortage of building materials (sand, aggregates, cement and steel reinforcement), due to the inability of pre-boom sources to continue supplying Bahrain, and the lack of alternative means of shipping materials into the country. (2008)

On behalf of the Ministry for Works, Fisher Associates was engaged to undertake a market study and financial / economic investment appraisal for a new terminal handling building materials. Subcontracted by Royal Haskoning, the work involved:

• Preparing a market analysis and future demand projections for materials, primarily based on benchmarking consumption with other countries at various levels of economic activity.
• Examining the financial viability of the BMP with respect to the alternative options and the estimated capital, annual maintenance and annual operating costs.
• Preparing an economic appraisal of the potential savings to Bahrain from its implementation. We looked at the impact on government revenues from additional taxation receipts, which would result from construction projects being completed without delays, and identified two main areas where the construction of the BMP would bring economic benefits:
  • Reducing the costs of imported building materials.
  • Ensuring security of supplies and hence reducing delays and uncertainties in the construction sector.
• Identification of strategies open to the Government for funding and operation of the terminals, and quantitative appraisal and analysis of these in terms of value for money.

Channel Deepening Study, Bahrain

Fisher Associates was appointed by subcontract to Haskoning UK to assist with a study into deepening the approach channel to Bahrain. Our role was to assess the strategic and economic benefits of dredging this to between 15m and 18m. Key tasks were: (2007/8)

• Conduct a strategic review of the proposed deepening considering Bahrain's place within world shipping markets, and in the context of other major ports in the Gulf.
• Identify the benefits to key stakeholders from dredging the Channel to the desired depths both now and in the light of anticipated growth.
• Assess the benefits in qualitative terms, and to the extent practical in quantitative terms via a discounted cash flow analysis of returns related to dredging the channel to 15m/15.5m/16m/16.5m/17m/17.5m/18m. 
• Make an appropriate recommendation based on the returns and risks.

Advice to IMO Technical Cooperation Committee

We were contracted by the Angola representative to set out the basis for the formulation of a strategy towards strengthening the linkage between the IMO’s Integrated Technical Cooperation Program, and the UN’s Millenium Development Goals. It defined maritime objectives and development indicators, to enable evaluation of the contributions of the maritime transport sector, and maritime transport targets and implementation strategies. (2006)

Marine Services Review, Port of Aqaba

We were engaged to undertake a management and operations review of marine services at the Aqaba Port Complex covering pilotage, towage, lighterage and other services. We also prepared an Information Memorandum with a view to attracting strategic partners to invest in new craft and contribute operational expertise. Sub-contracted to BearingPoint. (2 Fisher, 2005)

All Projects In This Section