The Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani) has announced the introduction of Maersk’s MECL (Maersk East Coast Loop) shipping service at Jeddah Islamic Port, further strengthening the port’s global maritime connectivity and enhancing trade flows between the Middle East, India, North America, and Africa.
The new service will connect Jeddah Islamic Port with major ports including Charleston, Savannah, Houston, Norfolk, and Newark in the United States; Tangier in Morocco; Salalah in Oman; and the Indian ports of Mundra, Pipavav, and Nhava Sheva. The service will operate with vessels offering a capacity of up to 7,000 TEUs.
The addition of the MECL service is expected to improve cargo movement efficiency, expand Jeddah Islamic Port’s shipping network, and provide exporters and importers with enhanced access to key international markets. It will also contribute to more reliable supply chains and faster transit times for regional and global trade.
According to Mawani, the new service aligns with its strategy to enhance the competitiveness of Saudi ports, increase maritime connectivity with global markets, and support the Kingdom’s growing logistics sector by offering efficient and reliable shipping solutions.
Jeddah Islamic Port continues to play a pivotal role as one of the Red Sea’s leading logistics gateways, supporting the objectives of Saudi Arabia’s National Transport and Logistics Strategy. The continued expansion of its shipping services reinforces the Kingdom’s ambition to establish itself as a global logistics hub while facilitating international trade and strengthening supply chain resilience.