Largest terminal operator in Saudi Arabia adds new port to its portfolio
Gulf Stevedoring Contracting Company (GSCCO), part of the Gulftainer group of companies, has entered an agreement with Red Sea Marine Services Company Limited to manage and operate King Fahad Industrial Port in Yanbu (KFIP) on Saudi Arabia’s western Red Sea coast.
This takes GSCCO’s portfolio of terminals in Saudi Arabia up to four, cementing the company’s position as the largest and most geographically diverse port operator in the country.
GSCCO will handle all types of cargo at KFIP, including containers, breakbulk cargo, vehicles and bulk cargo. To support operations at the port, the company will invest in significant amounts of new equipment to ensure it can deliver its award-winning levels of operational excellence and turn KFIP into another jewel in the crown of Saudi Arabia’s growing maritime presence.
GSCCO also celebrated another major milestone in 2018 when it passed the 30-million-TEU mark in container volume, corresponding to a 50% increase in throughput in just five years across all its facilities.“We are truly excited at the potential to develop KFIP in Yanbu into another industry-leading port in line with the strong commitment to the maritime and logistics industry expressed in the Saudi Vision 2030,” remarked Richard James, Managing Director, GSCCO.
The current infrastructure at KIFP enables the handling of container vessels with up to 8,000 TEU capacity. With roll-on / roll-off (RoRo) capabilities, a range of cargo-handling equipment and water depth of 18 metres at low tide, the port is equipped to handle all types and sizes of cargo to support the growing developments in the Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu (RCJY) and the surrounding areas in the Northwest of Saudi Arabia.
