The first berth of Container Terminal 9 (CT9) will be delayed by at least eight months, mainly because of a cross-border toxic-mud dumping dispute, according to an industry source.
The berth, originally scheduled to be handed to the developer next month and made operational by May, is now expected to be handed over by next September, the source said.
CT9 project director David Holmes conceded there would be a delay for the first berth because of the mud dispute, but did not give a time. 'The first berth might be a bit late, but the whole project should be completed by 2004,' he said.
According to a pact between the Government and the developer, the six berths are due to become operational every six months from May until the end of 2004.
The new berths are expected to handle up to 2.6 million containers a year, adding about 25 per cent to the 11.5 million containers processed by the existing eight terminals.
As a result of the mud-dumping dispute, the contractor was forced to dump mud in local waters on a longer time-scale instead of in mainland waters as had been planned.
CT9 will generate 6.6 million cubic metres of toxic mud - now being dumped in seabed pits off Chek Lap Kok airport.