Delays at Saudi ports hinder preparations for Ramadan
Shippers push to get cargo cleared at ports
Shippers are struggling to clear containers at the Saudi Arabian ports of Dammam and Jeddah, and importers are rushing to bring in goods ready for Ramadan, which starts next month, according to liner sources.
“There has been berth congestion at Jeddah over the past two weeks, due to strong winds,” said one liner executive.
“The port was shut intermittently, although the situation is slowly starting to return to normal.”
Local reports had suggested that staff shortages at Dammam’s King Abdul Aziz Port had led to vessels being delayed for over three weeks.
But a source at one container line which calls at the port regularly told IFW that vessel operations at Dammam were operating as normal, but boxes were suffering long delays before being moved by rail to Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia.
“Our agent has feedback that, as of today, there are approximately 2,620 dry and 90 reefer containers in Dammam Railway Container Terminal waiting to move to Riyadh,” he said.
“It could swell in coming days, due to the Ramadan rush. It will take at least 10-14 days’ waiting time to get the boxes to Riyadh, depending on the availability of rail wagons at Dammam and reefer plugs in Riyadh.”
He added that the backlog of containers bound for Riyadh could grow in the days leading up to Ramadan, which is expected to start this year on 11 August.
“Dammam Railway Container Terminal is making three or four trips a day to move the boxes,’ said the source.
“When old wagons are used, each trip will comprise about 70 of them, with each having capacity for 2teu. When new wagons are used, each trip will comprise about 50-60, each carrying 4teu.”
“There has been berth congestion at Jeddah over the past two weeks, due to strong winds,” said one liner executive.
“The port was shut intermittently, although the situation is slowly starting to return to normal.”
Local reports had suggested that staff shortages at Dammam’s King Abdul Aziz Port had led to vessels being delayed for over three weeks.
But a source at one container line which calls at the port regularly told IFW that vessel operations at Dammam were operating as normal, but boxes were suffering long delays before being moved by rail to Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia.
“Our agent has feedback that, as of today, there are approximately 2,620 dry and 90 reefer containers in Dammam Railway Container Terminal waiting to move to Riyadh,” he said.
“It could swell in coming days, due to the Ramadan rush. It will take at least 10-14 days’ waiting time to get the boxes to Riyadh, depending on the availability of rail wagons at Dammam and reefer plugs in Riyadh.”
He added that the backlog of containers bound for Riyadh could grow in the days leading up to Ramadan, which is expected to start this year on 11 August.
“Dammam Railway Container Terminal is making three or four trips a day to move the boxes,’ said the source.
“When old wagons are used, each trip will comprise about 70 of them, with each having capacity for 2teu. When new wagons are used, each trip will comprise about 50-60, each carrying 4teu.”
Click here to email the editor and comment on this story
Receive our FREE news email bulletin click here
- 13 − 15 March 2012
- 22 − 23rd March 2012
- 25th April 2012 for 12 weeks.
- 12 − 14 June 2012
