Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani) has announced that it has added King Abdulaziz Port to a new freight service operated by Swiss-based container group MSC.

 

The latest connection is set to bolster the Dammam-based port as a focal point for regional and global trade while strengthening the Kingdom’s hub credentials in fulfillment of the ambitions of the National Transport and Logistics Strategy (NTLS), said a statement from Mawani.

 

The capital of the kingdom’s Eastern Province will enjoy weekly sailings to eight maritime destinations covering the Arabian Gulf, South Asia, and Southern Africa. 

 

These include the ports of Khalifa bin Salman in Bahrain, Khalifa in UAE, Mundra and Hazira in India, Qasim in Pakistan, Port Louis in Mauritius, and Durban and Coega in South Africa. 

 

The service, which began on January 21, will feature five vessels with an average carrying capacity exceeding 6,000 TEUs.

 

As a world-class logistics center boasting top-tier infrastructure and capabilities, King Abdulaziz Port was an obvious choice for shipping liners looking to expand their routes in 2022, said Mawani in its statement. 

 

Notable examples include Sea Lead Shipping’s Far East to Middle East (FAM) service, Emirates Shipping Line’s Jebel Ali Bahrain Shuwaikh (JBS) service, Gulf-India Express 2 (GIX2) service by Aladin Express, and Maersk’s Shaheen Express service, it added.-TradeArabia News Service