“This is the first self-contained fishing port,” Al Buainain told the Bahrain News Agency (BNA) after unveiling the project. Explaining the facilities, he said that the Hidd port was the first in Bahrain to have all facilities beginning with piers for fishing boats to a fish market.
The project, built on 7.5 hectares of land cost the government BD4.5 million to construct, the Minister for Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning Dr Juma bin Ahmed Al Kaaby told the BNA. He said the maintenance of the project was being awarded to another contractor and would cost about five per cent to eight per cent of the total cost – about BD360, 00 annually.
The first phase of the port would take 100 boats, learns the agency. The minister said that the second phase, which would bring the overall number of boats to 250, would be completed in two months.
The maintenance of the project, he said, would be assigned to the contractor. A specialized company would be assigned the task three months later. The task of maintaining the project would be fully the responsibility of the maintenance company, the minister said.
Being a tidal project was not going to affect the port, said the minister. During the survey prior to the construction of the port, it was decided to retain 2.5 metres of water always, so that the boats would never be stuck on land.
“We have done the hydrodynamic modeling to ensure that the port functions normally always,” said Dr Al Kaaby.
He expressed his appreciation to His Majesty the King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa and the Crown Prince Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa for making the Hidd port a reality.
“The demand for a fishing port at Hidd was made in 2003. We are thankful that it has become a reality eight years later,” said Al Buainain.
He said that the project was a reality because the fishermen of the area had been continuously meeting him and lobbying for this project.
Al Buainain said that about BD1.7 million was also pumped by the Ministry of Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning into a fish breeding project. This money was spent for creating an artificial reef, he added.
Abdulnasser Al Mahmeed, Chairman of the Muharraq Municipal Council said the new port would bring back the smiles to the families. The port can take 250 boats and then there is an area for selling the catch, which meant that much over the 250 families would benefit.
He thanked the Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa for ensuring that the project was expedited.
The governor of Muharraq Salman Isa bin Hindi also addressed the gathering.