The Saudi Ports Authority, known as Mawani, has instituted a mandate for all shipping intermediaries and storage facility lessees within the logistics and support zones to operate on a continuous basis. This directive requires the processing of container transactions throughout the day and night, encompassing weekends and public holidays.
Observations indicate that some shipping agents and storage yard operators at King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam have not been conforming to the established operational guidelines.
Mawani has highlighted the vital role these agents play in maintaining an efficient flow of container receipts and deliveries, emphasizing the importance of preventing delays, congestion, or any disruption to the logistical chain.
The Authority has also urged the establishment of 24-hour communication lines to handle container transactions, assist clients, authorize container returns, and address financial obligations related to these operations.
In February 2024, ports under Mawani’s supervision reported a 16.88 percent surge in container arrivals, totaling 226,672 units, a notable increase from the previous year’s 193,937 units during the same month.
Additionally, there was a 1.44% uptick in the volume of cargo processed, with ports managing 23,381,835 tons, as opposed to the 23,049,373 tons handled in February of 2023. This growth is a testament to the significant investments made to enhance port infrastructure and elevate the standard of logistical services.
The cargo composition included 830,641 tons of general cargo, 3,626,347 tons of solid bulk, and 12,586,815 tons of liquid bulk. The ports also documented the arrival of 899,293 livestock, a staggering 166.67% increase over the 337,231 received in the corresponding period of 2023.
Maritime vessel traffic slightly increased by 1.57%, with the count of ships reaching 907 compared to 893 in the previous year. Contrarily, passenger numbers saw a significant decline of 32.86%, dropping to 67,754 from the previous year’s 100,907. The tally of automobiles also fell by 11.12%, down to 72,448 from 81,510 in 2023.
Setting a new record, King Abdul Aziz Port in Dammam successfully handled 235,820 TEUs, aligning with the National Transport and Logistics Strategy’s aim to position the Kingdom as a pivotal logistics hub connecting three continents.