RIYADH: Trade links between Saudi Arabia and Southeast Asia are set to further prosper after the Kingdom’s port authority announced a new shipping service to the region from King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam. The body, also known as Mawani, said the maritime offering will connect the port to Klang in Malaysia, Surabaya and Jakarta in Indonesia and Nhava Sheva in India, as well as Jebel Ali in the UAE. The service, known as IMS, is set to be introduced by freight and logistics shipping firm VASI Shipping Pte Ltd, according to a statement. This move falls in line with the authority’s aim to elevate its partnerships with major international transportation firms, support the maritime sector, and contribute to national economic development. It also supports the movement of exports and imports, thereby aligning well with the National Transport and Logistics Strategy objectives to cement the Kingdom’s position as a global logistics hub that bridges three continents. Furthermore, it represents a significant step in bolstering the role of the Dammam port in enhancing the maritime transport division as well as logistics services. The announced connections will be facilitated through regular weekly trips, with up to 1,800 twenty-foot equivalent units in terms of capacity. On a similar note, the King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam achieved a record-breaking monthly throughput, handling 235,820 TEUs in February. This milestone reflects its comprehensive operational services along with its modern equipment which enables it to manage various types of goods with a capacity of an estimated 105 million tons of cargo and containers. In October 2023, the port launched a shipping service to enhance connections with seven additional global destinations. Operated by France’s container carrier CMA CGM, the India Gulf Express shipping service was unveiled by Mawani at the time. The new service established a direct connection between the Dammam port and seven major maritime hubs, including Nhava Sheva, Mundra, and Mangalore in India. The hubs also included Colombo in Sri Lanka, Jebel Ali and Khalifa in the UAE, and Umm Qasr in Iraq. With a capacity exceeding 39,000 containers, the service included four ships weekly, strengthening trade capacity, competitiveness, and connectivity of the King Abdulaziz Port, the statement also explained at the time.