Shaping Hamad Port’s Future

By Simon West

Caitlin Jean Geel, contract and commercial manager at QTerminals, speaks exclusively to Breakbulk about the development of Qatar’s Hamad Port, a key hub for international shipping and a major gateway for breakbulk and other cargoes.

From Issue 5, 2024 of Breakbulk Magazine.

(4-minute read)


It’s been a record-breaking year at Qatar-based port operator QTerminals’ flagship facility, Hamad Port.

The complex, located south of capital city Doha, hit a major milestone in August after handling its 10 millionth twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) since it began operations eight years ago. A few weeks before, the port had set a new productivity record of 234.26 berth moves per hour (BMPH) when it welcomed the container vessel MSC Elisa XIII to its docks, beating the previous high of 220.38 BMPH.

Since its launch in late-2016, Hamad Port has fast evolved into a key hub for international shipping and a major gateway for breakbulk and other cargoes. Construction work designed to avoid capacity constraints has included the completion of the first two phases of the port’s container terminal 2 (CT2), a project that has boosted handling capacity to five million TEUs per year.

Caitlin Jean Geel, contract and commercial manager at QTerminals and a key member of the team that oversaw the development of CT2, described the project as a deeply rewarding experience.

“Honestly, it is job satisfaction seeing a megaproject like CT2 come to fruition,” Geel told Breakbulk. “There are so many proud milestone moments during a project like this, for example when construction begins after months of design work, or watching the offloading of the ship to shore cranes and other terminal equipment, or when handing over the site at the start of operations.

“It is a real sense of achievement knowing that I was part of a team that successfully delivered that project. There is so much to consider when undertaking port development and expansion projects, yet the main objective remains the same – how does the company operate and how will it make profit from what is built?”

Geel, who studied quantity surveying at South Africa’s University of Pretoria, began her career working on greenfield developments in the coal mining sector, gaining precious insight into the full life cycle of an industrial project from concept feasibility studies and tendering to construction and project closeout.

Seeking a fresh challenge, Geel decamped to Qatar a decade ago, working in contract variations and claims at a surveying firm while studying for a master’s in construction law and arbitration. In 2019, she joined the project team for the construction of CT2.

“My background experience is not initially linked to the shipping and logistics industry, yet here I am, fascinated and gaining knowledge of this profession,” Geel said.


Hamad Port – A Crucial Gateway

Hamad Port has been crucial in facilitating the smooth flow of goods and materials for the successful buildout of megaprojects such as the construction of the North Field liquefied natural gas (LNG) venture – the largest of its kind in the world – and the expansion of Hamad International Airport in Doha.

Last year, the port handled more than 1.3 million tons of breakbulk including machinery, steel, dry bulk, building materials, fertilizers and petrochemicals.

Geel’s role at QTerminals involves supporting the technical and project development department during the planning and execution of construction projects at Hamad Port and at the company’s European operations at Kramer Rotterdam Port in the Netherlands and Antalya Port in Türkiye. A typical day involves liaising with key stakeholders and developers and meeting with project managers, engineers, consultants and contractors.

“It can be spent in the terminal for maintenance work and onsite observing construction work, or at a desk evaluating proposals and reviewing designs. Tasks are often done remotely so even though I am based in Qatar, I am engaging with our business units in the Netherlands and Türkiye.”

Geel said the department was currently focused on the goal of implementing environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) measures into all of the company’s projects and capex investments, including demolition work, repairs, maintenance, refurbishment, expansion and new works to its existing operating terminals.


A Diverse Workplace

A key tenet of the company’s ESG strategy is creating an inclusive workplace culture, and Geel, keen to touch on the role of women in the industry, said her professional experience in Qatar had been “positive and enriching”.

“Similar to any of the other male-dominated industries, female professionals face the same challenges – it is how you manage and rise above those challenges that will gain you respect in the industry,” she said.

“Working in the maritime, shipping and logistics industry can be empowering but you need to have solid communication skills and confidence in yourself. I am grateful to have been mentored by a few colleagues who were eager and kind to pass on their wisdom. Here at QTerminals, there is a concerted effort to acknowledge and appreciate all female employees.”

Geel admitted there was still work to be done to create a truly inclusive workplace. Speaking about the industry as a whole, Geel said the transition to a more gender diverse working environment remained slow, while the industry has struggled to appoint and promote women to leadership roles.

A recent positive has been a drive to encourage more women to explore and pursue science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines, a move designed to strengthen the region’s maritime industry sector. For young women about to embark on a career in the logistics and shipping sector, Geel offered some sound advice.

“Take on the opportunity, as the local and international industry offers varied career pathways, and it exposes you to so much more than just transporting cargo. No matter which role you start at, it is not necessarily where you will be a decade later in your career, especially with technological advancements such as AI. Learn to embrace change and find the balance between your hard skills and soft skills.”


QTerminals is an exhibitor and sponsor at Breakbulk Middle East.