JEDDAH Islamic Port's (JIP) Red Sea Gateway Terminal (RSGT) saw first quarter volumes increase 25 per cent year on year with local volume up 44 per cent and transshipments rising two per cent.
This despite the start-up of rival King Abdullah Port (KAP) at Rabigh, 160 kilometres north, has not had a negative impact on RSGT's operations, the terminal's managing director Soren Hansen told Seatrade Global.
"KAP has attracted some transshipment cargo that was handled in JIP. However, this has not had a negative impact on the performance of RSGT. With the reduced transshipment volume, it has eased the capacity issues within JIP, giving more room for local volume growth," he said.
Last year RSGT handled 1.4 million TEU, while this year container throughput is forecast to rise to 1.6 million TEU. Its current annual capacity stands at 1.8 million TEU, and this is expected to increase to 2.6 million TEU in 2016 with 18 metres along side.
"JIP is strategically located within the bases of a majority of businesses and customers handling the volumes for the local Saudi market, and this gives the opportunity for local cargo volume to increase further in Jeddah," Mr Hansen said.
He anticipates that the Riyadh-Jeddah Saudi "landbridge", linking Dammam to Jeddah by rail when it is completed in 2020, will allow Jeddah to handle more cargo from the east of the country.
In 2014 RSGT received a total of 110 calls from mega-vessels with capacities of over 14,000 TEU.
"In March, RSGT received one of the biggest container vessels in the world, the 19,100-TEU CSCL Globe, [underlining] the ability of the terminal to handle mega-vessel calls," Mr Hansen said.
The terminal currently has regular mainline services from UASC, CSCL, CMA CGM, Maersk Line and Hanjin Shipping.
PORTS
06 May 2015 - 21:42
Jeddah's Red Sea Gateway volume up 25pc despite rival's opening
JEDDAH Islamic Port's (JIP) Red Sea Gateway Terminal (RSGT) saw first quarter volumes increase 25 per cent year on year with local volume up 44 per cent and transshipments rising two per cent.
PORTS
06 May 2015 - 21:42
Jeddah's Red Sea Gateway volume up 25pc despite rival's opening
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