RIYADH: Jeddah Islamic Port has received the motor vessel BYD HEFEI, a dual-fuel roll-on/roll-off carrier with a 7,000-unit capacity for vehicles and heavy equipment.
The vessel’s arrival at the Red Sea Gateway Terminal reflects the port’s readiness to handle next-generation maritime traffic and supports the Kingdom’s broader push to enhance supply chain efficiency under Vision 2030.
Operated at RSGT — Saudi Arabia’s first privately funded Build-Operate-Transfer terminal operator, partly owned by the SISCO Holding, Public Investment Fund, and COSCO SHIPPING Ports Limited — the MV BYD HEFEI highlights the Kingdom’s ongoing efforts to modernize terminals and advance sustainability initiatives.
The ship is powered by eco-friendly dual-fuel technology and is designed to meet the latest environmental and operational efficiency standards.
“This reflects the port’s readiness to accommodate various types of vessels and highlights its advanced operational capabilities,” according to the Saudi Ports Authority, also known as Mawani.
Strategically positioned near global shipping lanes, Jeddah Islamic Port handles over 65 percent of Saudi Arabia’s seaborne imports, playing a central role in the Kingdom’s National Transport and Logistics Strategy.
The integration of liquefied natural gas-powered vessels aligns with the NTLS goals and the Saudi Green Initiative, which aim to reduce emissions and promote clean energy in the transportation sector.
As ports across the UAE, Oman, and major global hubs like Singapore and Rotterdam invest in similar capabilities, Jeddah’s adoption of dual-fuel infrastructure bolsters its regional competitiveness and positions it firmly in the worldwide shift toward sustainable maritime logistics.
As part of its strategic efforts to strengthen maritime connectivity and diversify trade routes, Mawani has significantly expanded shipping services at Jeddah Islamic Port in 2025.
Among the newly added services is FRS1, operated by CSTAR LINE, which connects Jeddah to Chinese ports — Ningbo, Shanghai, and Nansha — as well as Aqaba in Jordan and Ain Sokhna in Egypt, with a capacity of up to 2,000 twenty-foot equivalent units.
In addition, the LRX service by CMA CGM began operations in July, linking Jeddah with key ports in the Levant and Eastern Mediterranean, including Latakia, Iskenderun, Mersin, and Beirut, with a TEU capacity of 2,826.
Earlier in the year, the IM2 service, jointly operated by Emirates Line and Wan Hai, was introduced, connecting Jeddah to Mundra, Alexandria, and Mersin, with capacity for 2,800 TEUs.
Sea Lead launched its RESIN service in June 2025, facilitating trade between Jeddah and Nhava Sheva, Ain Sokhna, Djibouti, and Jebel Ali, with a handling capacity of 1,000 TEUs.
Meanwhile, CMA CGM’s MEDEX service now connects Jeddah to 12 ports across the Middle East, South Asia, and Europe, including Abu Dhabi, Karachi, Colombo, and Piraeus, as well as Malta, Genoa, Fos, Barcelona, and Valencia.
These service expansions underscore Jeddah Islamic Port’s role as a growing transshipment and trade hub.
In 2024, the terminal, considered the busiest on the Red Sea and a critical gateway for Saudi Arabia’s trade, handled 5.58 million containers, marking a 12.6 percent year-over-year increase and positioning it 32nd globally by container volume.
