https://arab.news/ztjzd
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s King Fahd Industrial Port in Yanbu will be modernized further as the ports authority has established new ship anchorage areas in the facility.
The newly established docking zones will help modernize several logistical services in the port which includes delivering ships with supplies and fuels, the authority, also known as Mawani, said in a statement.
The establishment of anchorage areas is aligned with Mawani’s efforts to advance the Kingdom’s ports aimed at positioning Saudi Arabia as a global logistics hub.
Saudi Arabia’s National Transport and Logistics Strategy seeks to increase the sector’s contribution to the Kingdom’s gross domestic product to 10 percent from the current 6 percent by 2030.
The press statement further added that the anchorage areas are expected to increase the operational performance indicators in the port, along with reducing the docking time of ships.
These areas will also increase the number of ships that can be accommodated in the port to 27, representing an increase of almost 440 percent, compared to five ships previously.
“The establishment of these zones contributes to the development of the port’s capabilities, which is characterized by its strategic location on the Red Sea coast, and its geographical proximity to national factories within Yanbu Industrial City, making it the best choice for companies working in the field of export,” said Mawani.
It added: “These zones will provide all the operational services necessary for the success of transport operations, in addition to securing the requirements of industrial complexes.”
In December 2023, Mawani garnered 79.01 points in the UN Conference on Trade and Development’s Liner Shipping Connectivity Index for the fourth quarter of 2023, compared to 77.66 points in the previous quarter.
Mawani highlighted that Saudi Arabia has made significant strides in the logistics sector, establishing 28 new cargo services in collaboration with leading shipping liners in 2023.
Additionally, the Kingdom has achieved substantial progress in container handling, moving from 24th to 16th position in the Lloyd’s List One Hundred Ports rankings.
Moreover, Saudi Arabia also ascended 17 places in the World Bank’s Logistics Performance Index, securing the 38th position out of 160 countries.