The Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani) has received the first pilot boat at Jeddah Islamic Port as part of a new attribution contract.
The pilot boats specified in the contract have a power capacity of up to 3,800 kilowatts (kW), measure 11.6 metres in length, have a draft of 4.16 metres, and can reach speeds of up to 12.5 knots.
According to Mawani, the new pilot boats feature advanced technologies in tugboat manufacturing and are designed to tow fifth-generation container ships.
This addition to the fleet aims to improve the operational performance of piloting operations at the port and help meet the targeted performance indicators.
Moreover, the Saudi Ports Authority has signed four contracts for providing marine services with private sector investments exceeding one billion riyals.
These contracts were signed with “Zamil Marine Services” and “Naghi Marine” to provide a range of services in eight ports across the Kingdom, in cooperation with the Ministry of Transport and Logistic Services and the National Center for Privatization.
Last month, Mawani recorded 231.7 points in the Liner Shipping Connectivity Index, according to the report of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).
More recently, A.P. Moller-Maersk (Maersk) and Mawani announced the launch of the Middle East’s biggest Maersk Logistics Park at Jeddah Islamic Port.