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UASC mega-boxship calls at Red Sea Gateway

UASC mega-boxship calls at Red Sea Gateway
Al Nefud, which owner UASC claims is the “world’s greenest” Ultra-large container (ULC) vessel, made its maiden call at Jeddah Islamic Port.

The 18,800 teu Malta-flagged container vessel called at Red Sea Gateway Terminal (RSGT) and was greeted by Saudi Ports Authority president and UASC chairman Nabeel Al-Amudi, UASC coo Waleed Al Dawood, and Saudi Industrial Services Company (SISCO) ceo Mohammed Al-Mudarres.

Delivered from Hyundai Heavy Industries in 2015, UASC claims CO2 emissions for the voyage of the ULCV are 60% lower if the same containers were carried on board a 13,500teu ship.

“The arrival of Al Nefud at Jeddah Islamic Port is yet another significant milestone in the Port’s track-record of achievements and an indicator of the increasing importance of the port and KSA in the shipping industry,” said Nabeel Al-Amudi.

“Jeddah Islamic Port is equally capable of receiving and handling vessels of this size and class”, he added. “Ports are considered to be the backbone of a country’s economy and the Saudi Ports Authority always seeks to support the ongoing development in the Kingdom through providing services of the highest standards.”

“The Terminal is very capable of handling such vessels, serving 450 ultra-large vessels since beginning operations”, said Soren Hansen, md of RSGT.

Waleed Al Dawood added: “UASC vessels made 300 calls to Saudi Ports in 2015 and handled 1,230,000teu onboard its own vessels to and from different Saudi Ports in the same year.”

Al Nefud is one of a class of six UASC vesels in its class, which also includes Barzan, Al Muraykh, Al Zubara, Al Dahna and Tihama.