MAWANI signs two contracts worth SAR 640 mln to deepen, build new berths at Jeddah Islamic Port

Jeddah Islamic Port

The Saudi Ports Authority (MAWANI) has signed two contracts with major contractor PC Marine Services and Modern Building Leaders (MBL), the latter in consortium with HutaHegerfeld Saudia Ltd, to deepen and build new berths at Jeddah Islamic Port, at a total value of SAR 640 million, according to a statement.

These agreements are part of MAWANI's initiatives to accelerate growth in the maritime transport and logistics industry, drive a transformative shift in port operations by implementing over 160 projects and develop a prosperous and sustainable maritime sector. This comes in the quest to position the Kingdom as a global logistics hub connecting three major continents in line with the objectives of the National Transport and Logistics Strategy (NTLS), the statement added.

MAWANI also stated that the contract signed with the MBL and HutaHegerfeld Saudia is aimed at positioning Jeddah Islamic Port as a pioneering logistics hub through the project of deepening the harbor approach channels, turning basins, waterways and the South Terminal basin. These upgrades will enable the arrival of giant vessels that hold a capacity up to 24,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), besides enhancing the port’s competitive capability and attracting new global shipping lines to local shores.

As per the contract with MBL, new berths (#26 to #31), measuring 16 meters deep and 1,100 meters long, will be built at the multi-cargo terminals to receive large bulk grain carriers, accommodate larger vessels to cover the local market demand, secure the Kingdom’s strategic grain reserves through higher imports and boost food security through Jeddah Islamic Port.

Saudi ports are a vital engine of economic growth, playing a central role in developing regional and global trade. This is further underscored by the performance of the Kingdom’s ports in the World Bank’s Container Port Performance Index (CPPI) for 2021, securing top positions among 370 ports with King Abdullah Port grabbing the first spot, followed by Jeddah Islamic Port at the eighth spot and King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam at the 14th position.