The service will connect Bahrain to the west coast of the US and Thailand, Singapore, China and Malaysia.
APM Terminals Bahrain ceo Marco Neelsen said the first ship will call at Bahrain on 12 August.
“Bahrain will now be linked to the West Coast of the US as well connect to the Far East ports directly,” he told the Bahrain News Agency. “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.
Neelsen says the weekly call will help develop Bahrain and the port, with imports to the Asian and Far East Asia markets connected directly. Bahrain could develop its manufacturing sector as a result of theses new marine trade connections.
He sees Bahrain as a logistical hub for the upper Gulf. While Dubai can cover the lower Gulf, Bahrain could become the port of choice for Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Iraq, he said. “This will take the load off Jebel Ali and bring Bahrain into the limelight – as this port is only about half way down [the Gulf].” he concluded.
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