RIYADH — The Saudi Ports Authority (MAWANI) has to its credit several major accomplishments during the year 2020 by implementing a raft of initiatives in the process of Saudi Arabia’s unhindered transformation into a global logistics center, despite the repercussions of the coronavirus pandemic.

In a report, published on Saturday, the authority highlighted its most remarkable achievements during the year 2020. MAWANI said that it has implemented a package of specific initiatives and measures aimed at increasing efficiency and upgrading the port sector, by raising the competitiveness of the Kingdom’s port services in accordance with the highest international standards. It noted that the accomplishments will enable the promotion of economic growth and bringing in promising investment opportunities in this vital sector.

The remarkable achievements of 2020 have come within the framework of the authority’s strategic objectives and ambitious initiatives to become an international leader in port sector, and transform the Kingdom into a global logistics center and linking hub for the three continents, in line with the goals of the Saudi Vision 2030, represented by the National Industrial Development and Logistics Program (NIDLP).

MAWANI, under the umbrella of the National Transport and Logistic Services Strategy, seeks to make Saudi ports a transit trade hub, and to occupy the number one position regionally and a leading position internationally by providing an effective integrated port network with world standard efficiency and capacity in line with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.

Largest BOT container terminal pact at Jeddah port

One of the most remarkable achievements of MAWANI was the signing and executing of the largest commissioning contracts in the history of Saudi ports to develop and operate the northern and southern container terminals in the Jeddah Islamic Port, with leading companies with investments worth about SR9 billion.

The contract, which is for a period of 30 years under build, operate and transfer (BOT) formula, will contribute to raising the capacity of container terminals by more than 60 percent, reaching over13 million containers annually, compared to about 7.6 million containers at present. It will also create around 4,000 new jobs in the port sector, in addition to increasing demand for local content and the flow of investments.

The authority, in partnership with the Ministry of Transport and the National Center for Privatization, has signed the Kingdom’s largest single BOT agreement for the development and operation of container terminals at King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam, with investments exceeding SR7 billion, which will contribute to raising the capacity of the port’s container terminals by 120 percent, bringing the number of containers to more than 7.5 million annually.

Navigation network

According to the report, MAWANI has launched four intercontinental shipping lines to enhance the strength of linking the Kingdom’s ports with world ports, which contributed to achieving Saudi ports new progress in the index of the maritime navigation network communications with global shipping lines.

Within the framework of improving business, developing procedures, raising operational efficiency, and encouraging the private sector to invest in this vital sector, MAWANI implemented a number of initiatives with the participation of 11 government agencies that aimed to monitor the challenges facing the maritime transport and ship supply sector; studying the best international practices in the ports of the leading countries; coordinating government efforts to raise the competitiveness of the sector, and taking advantage of the Kingdom’s strategic location between the three continents.

In order to regulate the procedures of the flow of trucks to and from the ports, as well as to enhance logistical services and raise the efficiency of operation at Saudi ports, the authority, in cooperation with the Saudi Company for Exchanging Digital Information (Tabadul), launched a system for managing trucks’ schedule for import and export through the platform Fasah at King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam.

The first phase of this qualitative truck management system was also launched at Jeddah Islamic Port, which contributes to reducing the truck time spending in ports from three hours to less than 30 minutes.

Largest regional grain terminal

MAWANI and the Saudi Agricultural and Livestock Investment Company (SALIC) signed a lease agreement for an area covering 313,000 square meters at the Yanbu Commercial Port for establishing the first and largest regional terminal for the import, processing and export of grain in the Kingdom in two phases, with a total capacity of five million tons annually.

The report also stated that, within the framework of supporting military industries, the first locally manufactured HSI32 speed interceptor boat was launched, in addition to the inauguration of the first floating dock for the Saudi Royal Navy at King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam.

Within the framework of monitoring, inspection and licensing work, the authority issued 27 uniform licenses to maritime agents and ship suppliers during the year 2020, as the number of licenses issued to maritime agents reached nine, while the number of licenses issued to ship owners, except for fuel in all its forms, reached 18 licenses.