(ANSA) - Aqaba, January 27 - The Aqaba Container Terminal (ACT), the world's gateway to Jordan and beyond, ended 2013 by adding notable achievements to its long track record of success.

Specifically, its achievements last year covered the areas of operational capacity, sustainability, internal operations and community service.

OPERATIONAL CAPACITY.

ACT's steady operational growth was reflected in its 2013 year-end figures, showing into a 7% increase in total throughput in comparison to 2012 figures.

In 2013, ACT also completed its berth-expansion project.

This construction program started in 2010 and was successfully completed via three handover phases, with the end delivery of an additional 460m of quay length.

In light of this milestone, the company received King Abdullah II in October 2013 to commemorate and inaugurate the completion and delivery of the new and expanded berth. The development was seen as a clear reflection of the king's vision for expanding the horizons of Aqaba city and transforming it into a key logistical hub for the region.

The new expanded berth has enabled ACT to deliver 1,000m of quay without any stowage restrictions. ACT also ensured the completion of all planned projects on schedule, including the expansion, maintenance, and upgrading scheduled for the existing deck.

"We are proud of the successes we recorded in 2013. Our results reflect the agility and efficiency of our company's operations and our great team," said ACT CEO Jeppe Jensen when commenting on these developments.

"In the years to come, we will continue to work towards realizing His Majesty King Abdullah II's vision for transforming the city of Aqaba into a regional transportation hub while further strengthening our role as a contributor to community development and growth. "We have achieved everything we aimed for in 2013. However, development is an ongoing process and we always strive to become better through continuous efforts to improving our service deliveries for our customers and business partners".

Jordan's Prime Minister H.E. Abdullah Ensour and the Jordanian Cabinet also visited ACT's headquarters in November 2013. A walk-through presentation was delivered by ACT as part of the visit's agenda, presenting ACT's present and its future plans.

A SUSTAINABLE OUTLOOK.

ACT also released its second sustainability report, entitled "The Most Sustainable Gateway to Jordan and beyond". The report confirms ACT's achievement of attaining level "B" for transparency and disclosure based on the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Check.

The report covered seven focus areas including: safety, security, operational efficiency, environmental impact, employees' engagement, supporting the community and financial performance.

INTERNAL OPERATIONS.

The company launched its revamped bilingual, websitehttps://www.act.com.jo, in 2013. The website offers a virtual tour around the terminal section along with a comprehensive map, a search engine, a photo and multimedia gallery, and a careers' section as well. On the operational safety front, ACT celebrated Global Safety Day on September 25, 2013. The event's agenda focused on the theme of ownership and intervention as a means to prevent accidents in the workplace.

The day featured an agenda uniting all sections of the community around the slogan "If You See It, You Own It".

ACT also held its first "Draw for Safety" competition earlier in the year. The event featured the participation of 70 children from ACT's team members. The participants were of different age groups, and the end result was a display of 25 paintings across the terminal. THE COMMUNITY AND CSR.

In 2013, ACT continued to strengthen its presence in local community initiatives. Contributing positively to the local health arena, the company held a free medical day in the Wadi Araba area. The medical day, which was organized by the ACT CSR committee, included check-ups and medical examinations benefiting over 3,000 people in Al Reesheh village in Wadi Araba.

In the area of environmental conservation, ACT launched the second edition of its pro-cycling "Cycle for Green" campaign, through which it highlights bike riding as an affective and greener means of transportation.

On the educational front, ACT supported members of its local community, especially less fortunate families facing financial challenges at the start of the academic school year.

The company launched the "Ekfal Taleb 2" campaign, through which more than 450 students from eighteen Government Schools across Aqaba were given support in terms of stationary and tuition fees.

Finally, and in observation of the Holy Month of Ramadan, ACT also launched in 2013 the "Ahl Al Khair 3" (People of Charity) initiative. The initiative targeted the city of Aqaba and its surrounding villages including - the Wadi Araba area, and the Al Disi. It entailed the distribution of food packages containing basic food items throughout the holy month. Furthermore, it also included the distribution of coupons to poor families, before Eid Al Fitr. These coupons were exchanged for purchases from specific stores.

ACT is a joint venture between the Aqaba Development Corporation (ADC) and APM Terminals - the leading global provider of advanced logistical services - operating via a 25-year build-operate-transfer agreement signed in 2006.

The terminal constitutes the logistical and economic backbone of the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA), serving as the preferred gateway to the region for many active markets around the world. Over the years, the terminal has been a shining example of a large-scale establishment operating under a progressive leadership with an uncompromising dedication to sustainable growth.