Aden in the Republic Of Yemen is at the centre of the most important trade route in history, Columbus knew this and ended up discovering the Americas while trying to circumvent it.

Its location has always been astride major historic sea routes, in ancient times between the Near East and Europe and more recently between Europe the Near, Middle and Far East, Europe and South Africa. During the 1950's and 1960's Aden was one of the worlds most important bunkering ports, handling 6500 vessels annually and supplying around 5 million tonnes of fuel oil and lubricants to ships. Coupled with its location is Aden's geological make up, which provides it with a very large natural basin, protected on three sides from prevailing winds. It has short approach channels and a sheltered outer anchorage.

AIM Terminal is a new facility built with that in mind. The facility was designed using the expertise of UK consultants Foster Wheeler, WSP and at various times AIM Terminal received operational consulting services from BP and Caltex. It is to these Western companies that AIM Terminal is pegging its standards with regard construction, products and services.