With the launch of a new shipping service by German container transportation company Hapag-Lloyd, maritime connectivity between Saudi and African ports is expected to get a boost. The Saudi Ports Authority, commonly known as Mawani, revealed the new route, designated JDX, which will link the Jeddah Islamic Port to African harbours including Tangier in Morocco and Damietta in Egypt.
With a capacity of up to 4,253 twenty-foot equivalent units, the additional connectivity will be allowed by frequent weekly journeys. The goal of this action is to improve commerce flow between Saudi ports and their international counterparts. It also fits in nicely with Mawani’s efforts to establish the Kingdom as a major international logistics centre connecting three continents.
The aim of this effort is to improve Saudi Arabia’s standing in international standards and optimise supply-chain movement in accordance with the National Transport and Logistics Strategy’s goals. The Kingdom’s maritime industry is expanding, as seen by the introduction of a new shipping service connecting Jeddah to the northern Red Sea earlier this month by independent short-sea service operator Folk Maritime.
According to Mawani, the offering would connect the Kingdom’s Jeddah Islamic Port, Yanbu Commercial Port, and NEOM Port to Jordan’s Aqaba Port and Egypt’s Ain Sokhna Port. The service, called NRS, was introduced with a capacity of up to 1,300 standard containers and was intended to run on weekly schedules. Mawani and MEDLOG inked a contract in March to create an integrated logistics zone in Jeddah.
The government agency collaborated with the Mediterranean Shipping Co.’s logistics division to build the integrated zone, with an investment value estimated to reach up to SR175 million ($46.6 million). The announcement further stated that the project includes an integrated services facility for container maintenance and inspection with the goal of training national people in the logistics services industry and creating 400 direct and indirect job opportunities.
By utilising alternative energy sources intended to lower carbon emissions, the zone was also expected to help maintain the safety of the port environment. Jeddah Islamic Port has won several international honours, including the “Advanced Infrastructure” award at the “Landmarks in Logistics Summit 2023” because of its exceptional infrastructure and wide range of shipping services.
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