Arrackal Alexander M

Manama, Jul 19 (BNA) — APM Terminals, operators of the Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Port (SKSP), organized a ghabhga at the Bushido Restaurant, at which its Chief Executive Officer Marco Neelsen informed the august gathering, “APM Terminals has signed up with Japanese shipping company Nippon Yusan Kysha (NYK) and Korean company Hanjin Shipping. The first ship will call into Bahrain on August 12.

With these two agreements, Bahrain will now be linked to the West coast of the US as well connect to the Far East ports directly,” he added. In light of the Free Trade Agreements in place between the Kingdom of Bahrain and the United States of America, this will hopefully encourage more companies to set up more production lines and factories in Bahrain for the US, he added.

In an exclusive to the Bahrain News Agency, the CEO said that the service will be weekly and will cover the geographies between the west coast of the United States, Asia and the Middle East. The ship will sail into Bahrain every Monday, he said. The ship will call into Bahrain and then connect to the West coast of the US and Thailand, Singapore, China and Malaysia, the CEO said.

The weekly call is also expected to benefit the development of Bahrain and the SKSP, with imports to the Asian and Far East Asia markets connected directly. It adds to the cost and time efficiency for any trader using Bahrain, he said. APM Terminals desired that Bahrain would be a port of choice in the Upper Gulf and with these agreements, that desire is coming true, he added. Bahrain will be a logistical hub for the Upper Gulf. This will ensure better connectivity with other markets, he said. This is expected to result in business growth with entrepreneurs coming in looking for local facilities and export and import. Bahrain could thus turn into a manufacturing country, Neelsen said.

While Dubai would cover the lower Gulf, including Bandar Abbas, Suha and Oman, Bahrain could be the port of choice for Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Iraq. These economies growing stronger and the future looking prosperous, there was a need for a logistical hub in the Northern Gulf and Bahrain fulfils this need, said the CEO. “This will take the load off Jebel Ali and bring Bahrain into the limelight – as this port is only about half way down,” he said.

With the big ships coming into Bahrain, the ports of Kuwait, Iraq and others can take advantage of the local economy, he added. The ships from Hanjin will be 300 metre long and capable of 6000 containers. APL from China has already brought in 9000 TUL ships.

The event was attended by dignitaries business partners, prominent business-persons, senior government officials, members of the media and senior APM Terminals management. Neelsen opened the evening by reviewing the company’s highlights of the last year and of the new initiatives planned to take place over the next few months.

AAM/EM