Southern Container Terminal is open for business: The Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani) and Dubai-based DP World inaugurated the SAR 3 bn (USD 800 mn) Southern Container Terminal at Jeddah Islamic Port, after a three-year expansion and development project saw the terminal’s capacity increase to 4 mn TEUs from 1.8 mn TEUs, according to a press release. The expansion is targeting a future capacity of 5 mn TEUs.

Cutting-edge: The 2.15k meter quay — with 18 meter deep-water capacity — will now be able to handle up to five large container ships simultaneously. The modernized terminal integrates automation, IoT cargo tracking, and AI load analysis to reduce gate transaction times from two minutes to just 10 seconds. The capacity for refrigerated containers was also doubled to 2.34k from 1.2k. Meanwhile, automated and electrified yard cranes were introduced, while aiming to expand quay cranes to reach 17 by the end of this year.

IN CONTEXT- The expansion project — awarded to DP World in April 2020 — is part of SAR 9 bn concession contracts between Mawani, DP World, and Red Sea Gateway Terminal under a build-operate-transfer (BOT) model. These agreements represent the biggest concession contracts in Saudi ports history.

More in the pipeline: DP World is building a new facility with a capacity to inspect up to 75 reefer containers at once — the largest in the Kingdom, according to the press release. The Dubai-based giant is also working on a SAR 900 mn logistics park spanning 415k sqm to enhance storage, distribution, and shipping services, set to be completed by 2Q 2026.

A focus on sustainability: Mawani and DP World aim to cut the terminal’s carbon emissions by 50% within five years by adopting electric cranes and trucks, green building designs, and water recycling systems, the statement said.

Tags: