The Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani) has signed two contracts worth $171 million (642 million Saudi riyals) in order to deepen and build berths at the Jeddah Islamic Port.
The authority signed the deals with PC Marine Services and Modern Building Leaders (MBL) consortium consisting of Huta Hegerfeld Saudia to develop the port along the Red Sea, the Authority said.
According to the statement, “The 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 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.”
The contract with MBL, in association with Huta Hegerfeld Saudia Ltd, intends to develop the credentials of Jeddah Islamic Port as a pioneering logistics destination through the deepening of harbor approach channels, turning basins, waterways, and the South Terminal basin.
These upgrades will enable the arrival of giant vessels that hold a capacity of up to 24,000 TEUs, enhancing the port’s competitive capability and attracting new global shipping lines to local shores.
The PC Marine Services contract is for building berths measuring 16 meters deep and 1,100 meters long 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 overall food security through Jeddah Islamic Port”, according to the statement.
