Hamad Port has added five new services to its growing shipping lines network during 2022 as part of its continuous journey of expansion and in view of Qatar’s growing trade ties with the rest of the world.
With these new services, the total shipping lines network has reached 28, offering direct and indirect services to over 100 destinations around world.
The new services provide additional opportunities for direct trade between Qatar and the world, cementing the port’s role towards achieving the goals aimed at transforming Qatar into a vibrant regional trade hub, a tweet from Mwani Qatar said, adding it would also provide regular service, faster and cost-effective transit.
“The performance of logistics and operational processes at Hamad Port reflects the major development of the port and the constant attention to improving the quality and productivity in the context of Qatar’s effort to ensuring a smooth flow of cargo and materials to local markets,” the Ministry of Transport and Communication had said earlier.
Hamad Port – whose strategic geographical location offers opportunities to create cargo movement towards the upper Gulf, supporting countries such as Kuwait and Iraq and south towards Oman – had seen total of 1,569 vessels call during 2022, the year that saw QTerminals start the full-scale operation of first and second phase of Container Terminal 2.
Hamad Port – whose multi-use terminal is designed to serve the supply chains for the RORO (vehicles), grains and livestock – had handled 520,324F/T (freight tonnes) of bulk and 983,033F/T of break-bulk during 2022.
In December 2022, the weekly India to East MED service was started with the port rotation being Abu Dhabi Port (UAE), Hamad Port (Qatar), Jubail Port (Saudi Arabia), Abu Dhabi Port (UAE) and Karachi Port (Pakistan), Mundra Port (India), Hazira Port (India), King Abdullah Port (Saudi Arabia), Alexandria El Dekheila Port (Egypt), Canakkale Port (Turkey), Tekirdag Port (Turkey), Canakkale Port (Turkey), Aliaga Port (Turkey), Mersin Port (Turkey), King Abdullah Port (Saudi Arabia), and Jebel Ali Port (UAE).
In November 2022, the terminal operating company announced the shipping line linking Qingdao (China) -Tianjin (China)-Shanghai (China) – Ningbo (China) – Nansha (China) – Jebel Ali (the UAE)- Dammam (Saudi Arabia) – Hamad Port (Qatar) – Qingdao (China).
In October 2022, the Gulf-Pakistan Express (GPX) service was started with the port rotation being Sohar Port (Oman) – Hamad Port (Qatar) – Karashi Port (Pakistan) – Sohar Port (Oman).
In the same month, Qatar witnessed the commencement of Gulf–India Express 2 (GIX2), with the port rotation being Mundra Port (India) – King Abdulaziz Port (Saudi Arabia) – Khalifa Bin Salman Port (Bahrain) – Hamad Port (Qatar) – Jebel Ali Port (UAE) – Mundra Port (India).
In September 2022, QTerminals had announced the commencement of fortnightly AGI2 service operated by the New Golden Sea Shipping (NGSS), a subsidiary of COSCO Shipping Lines, connecting Port of Singapore; Singapore – Mundra Port, India – Port Khalifa, UAE – Hamad Port, Qatar – Khalifa bin Salman Port, Bahrain – Port Khalifa, UAE and Port of Singapore, Singapore.
Source: Gulf Times