MANAMA: A giant cargo ship docked in Bahrain for the first time yesterday, to ensure smooth trade with the Far East.

The Hanjin Port Kelang docked at the Khalifa Bin Salman Port carrying 6,600 containers, transporting cargo worth millions.

It is a mother ship of Hanjin, one of Asia’s largest shipping companies that will send four such vessels a month.

The company has added Bahrain to its destination list thanks to the Al Sharif Group, one of Bahrain’s leading shipping agents.

The South Korean ship would previously dock in Dubai, from where smaller feeder vessels would deliver cargo to and from Bahrain.

With the mother ship now docking in Bahrain, export and import from the Far East will take less time.

“This is the first time that Hanjin has sent its mother ship to Bahrain,” said Al Sharif Group office director Hussein Al Sharif.

“In the past, Hanjin would only send its feeder vessels, which are smaller ships that would transfer cargo from a big ship in Dubai.

“Now the mother ship will be docking directly in Bahrain and cut Bahrain’s transit time for import and export to the Far East,” he added.

Mr Al Sharif said that would shave almost a week off shipping time and eliminate any issues that might arise previously.

“The ship coming directly to Bahrain means that there will be no more changing of cargo in Dubai,” he said.

“It will save a minimum of one day and avoid any delays caused by congested shipping yards in Dubai.

“Hanjin will now be sending four mother ships to Bahrain every month, allowing the kingdom to import several goods from Asia and maintain its export there.

“Bahrain mostly exports aluminium to the region,” he added.

The ship came to Bahrain from Dammam, Saudi Arabia, and will move on to Dubai before continuing its long journey to the Far East.

The Al Sharif Group presented a welcome plaque to ship captain Kim Hyung.
ahmed@gdn.com.bh