Saudi Arabia’s King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam has launched a shipping service to strengthen links with seven more global destinations.
The India Gulf Express shipping service, operated by French container shipping company CMA CGM, was launched by the Saudi Ports Authority.
The service, called IMS, will be launched by freight and logistics transport company VASI Shipping Pte Ltd, according to a statement. The move is in line with the authority’s aim to strengthen partnerships with major international transport companies, support the maritime sector, and contribute to the country’s economic development. It also supports the flow of imports and exports, thereby aligning with the national transport and logistics strategic objectives and consolidating the Kingdom’s position as a global logistics hub connecting three continents. In addition, it is an important step in strengthening the role of Dammam Port in enhancing the maritime sector and logistics services. The announced connectivity will be facilitated through weekly scheduled flights with the capacity to accommodate up to 1,800 vehicles of 20-foot equivalent. Similarly, King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam handled a record-breaking 235,820 TEUs in February. This milestone reflects its comprehensive range of operational services as well as modern equipment, allowing it to manage all types of cargo with an estimated capacity of 105 million tonnes of cargo and containers.
New routes to Saudi Arabia
The new route establishes direct connections between Dammam Port and seven major maritime hubs in India, including Nava Sheva, Mundra, and Mangalore. These hubs also include Colombo in Sri Lanka, Jebel Ali and Khalifa in the United Arab Emirates, and Umm Qasr in Iraq.
The new service has a capacity of more than 39,000 containers and includes four ships per week, enhancing the trading capacity, competitiveness, and connectivity of King Abdulaziz Port.
The move is in line with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, which aims to strengthen maritime links, provide faster transit times, and provide cost-effective solutions for local exporters to establish Saudi Arabia as a leading logistics and economic powerhouse.
The new service is the 25th addition to the Port Authority’s expanding network of sea routes this year. This improved the country’s score in the UNCTAD Liner Transport Connectivity Index for the third quarter to 77.66 points, up from 76.16 points in the second quarter.
Integrated LOGISTICS ZONE
In another landmark development, Saudi Global Ports (SGP), a subsidiary of Singapore port operator PSA International, has signed a groundbreaking agreement with Mawani to establish an integrated logistics zone covering about 1 million square meters at King Abdulaziz Port.
The agreement was formally signed in the presence of His Excellency Saleh Al Jasser, Minister of Transport and Logistics Services of Saudi Arabia, as well as Singapore’s Minister for Manpower and Second Minister for Trade and Industry Dr Tan See Leng. The signing was made during Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s official visit to Saudi Arabia.
The ambitious Logistics zone project aims to turn the port into a cutting-edge, sustainable, and resilient transport and logistics hub to serve not only the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia but also the wider region. Key elements of the initiative include the establishment of bonded warehouses and state-of-the-art cold storage facilities, SGP announced.
Sustainable ELEMENTS
In line with global commitments to combat climate change, the logistics zone will incorporate sustainable features, including the use of hybrid and electric equipment and integrated solar panels. These aspects highlight SGP and Mawani’s shared commitment to environmental stewardship while enhancing the region’s logistics capabilities.
According to Lloyd’s Top 100 Ports 2023 ranking, Saudi Arabia ranks 16th in the world in terms of annual container throughput.
In 2022, Saudi ports handled 10.44 million containers, with plans to increase that to more than 40 million by 2030.
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