Hamad Port, one of the Middle East’s largest ports, is set to welcome for the first time the visiting warship display at its facilities.
The recently opened 28.5sqkm Hamad Port, operated by Qatar Ports Management Company (Mwani Qatar), boasts a 4km long, 700m wide, and 17m deep basin, enabling it to harbour some of the world’s largest seafaring ships.
The display comes as part of the highly anticipated sixth edition of the Doha International Maritime Defence Exhibition and Conference (Dimdex 2018), which will be hosted and organised by Qatar Armed Forces from March 12 to 14 at the Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC).
Hosted off-site from the QNCC, the extensive display of visiting warships comprises several types of vessels as destroyers, frigates, and fast-attack craft, to amphibious transport docks from the region and beyond. To date, Dimdex has received over 70 warships at previous editions.
The arrival of the warships is one of the key elements of the leading maritime defence event, as navies from around the world get to display their latest vessels and showcase their capabilities in protecting trading routes, borders and shorelines. This year, Dimdex and Hamad Port will welcome international vessels and provide exhibitors and visitors with the opportunity once again to explore modern naval warships, and meet with the respective leaders and crew.
"This year’s event utilises the new facilities and capabilities at Hamad Port and Dimdex 2018 will display the latest technologies from the maritime security and defence industry, offering solutions to entities responsible for securing sea routes, international borders, and regional waters,” said chairman of Dimdex, Staff Brigadier (Sea) Abdulbaqi Saleh al-Ansari.
Qatar's major gateway to world trade is creating direct maritime lines and connecting Qatar to other international ports around the world to ensure the growing needs of the local market are met and to establish Hamad Port as a vital commercial centre in the region. Hamad Port has also been instrumental in addressing the challenges presented by the ongoing political challenges in the region, with the opening of new shipping lines to various international ports.
"Hamad Port offers expanded capacity, new sector-specific capabilities and hosts a base for offshore and marine support vessels. The port is strongly positioned to develop a regional shipping hub in the region and to play a major role in diversifying the Qatari economy and preparing it for a post-hydrocarbon future,” according to Hamad Ali al-Ansari, Director of Public Relations and Communications, Mwani Qatar.
