‘New maritime code brings Bahrain on par with others’

TDT | Manama  

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Staff Reporter

Bahrain’s new maritime code brings the country on par with others, said Shaikh Ahmed bin Isa bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, Undersecretary for Ports and Maritime Affairs at the Transportation and Telecommunications Ministry, yesterday.

Shaikh Ahmed was speaking at the inaugural ceremony of Trans Middle East 2022, the biggest expo in the region for Container Ports, Shipping and Transport Logistics, which kicked off yesterday at The Diplomat Radisson Blu Hotel when he made this statement. He said Bahrain’s initiatives on its transportation strategy remained focused and at the core of this strategy was the recent launch of the fastest Global Seato-Air logistics hub in the region, which affirms Bahrain’s strategic position midway between European and Asian markets.

He pointed out that the Kingdom’s new maritime code, which is the first major legal update, brings the country on par with other countries. “The new law and regulations are designed to ensure that Khalifa Bin Salman Port (KBSP) provides the highest efficiencies possible in port and logistics services.” “KBSP’s strategic location in the middle of the Arabian Gulf, together with its deep-water berths and approach channel enables it to accept the largest ocean-going container vessels and its direct overland links to the mainland of Saudi Arabia positions the port as a major regional distribution center.

“The port is only 13 km away from the Bahrain International Airport and 5 km of purpose-built causeway. Access to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia via the King Fahad Causeway is a mere 30 km drive. “Under the management of private operator APM Terminals, a global terminal operator, the port is one of the most modern in the Arabian Gulf, able to handle container vessels with an efficiency matching that of the most productive ports in the world.”

Speaking at the inaugural event of the expo, Maureen Bannerman, Managing Director of APM Terminals Bahrain, said KBSP is an invaluable part of Bahrain’s national infrastructure and growth and a significant contributor to Bahrain’s non-oil GDP. “KBSP today is a regional transportation hub, serving the Kingdom and wider region. In particular, the eastern province of Saudi Arabia and the Northern Arabian Gulf; with technological benchmarks achieved in digitizing and streamlining logistics and port services.

“As the operator of KBSP, a maritime facilitator of Bahrain, and part of the world’s most comprehensive port network, APM Terminals has been successfully operating the port for over a decade. “Over the past ten years, KBSP has witnessed stable growth across its various operations including container volumes. This area has grown by 60 per cent, general and bulk cargo by 237pc, and over 11,000 vessels including 390 cruise vessel calls that have collectively brought 813,436 visitors to Bahrain.

“In that time, we have faced many challenges and we are all managing the profound impact the pandemic has had on the shipping and maritime industry. Disruptions to the global supply chain ring out across the world, driven by outbreaks of the virus, and the recovery for our industry will linger much longer than others. “Despite these headwinds, the highlight for KBSP for 2021, has been its ability to adapt to our customers requirements in the increasing demand for breakbulk handling on General Cargo vessels through conversion of containerized volume, besides the introduction of new non-cargo related services.

This combined with a favourable cargo mix and revenue from non-cargo related activities has resulted in a positive year, despite the global setbacks we all faced.” She also said that the port has also been a platform to invest and cultivate Bahrain’s future maritime and logistics workforce with 64pc of the workforce being Bahraini nationals. Speaking to The Daily Tribune on the sidelines of the event, Ms Maureen said decarbonisation is one of the top priorities for Khalifa Bin Salman Port (KBSP).

“Decarbonisation roadmap is vital for us in the journey forward. We aim to become 70 per cent carbon neutral by 2030 and 100 per cent by 2040, which is 20 years earlier to the Kingdom’s carbon neutral goal strategies devised as part of Paris Climate conference. The focus is majorly on three areas; energy optimization, alternative energy sources and electrification,” she said. “Next week, we are organising a ‘Green Week’ campaign with emphasis on implementing sustainable goals. A beach cleanup drive will also be initiated by us as community partnership is important in achieving green goals. There are challenges but nothing is going to be easy; it’s an imperative move.”

Speaking to The Daily Tribune, Safa Abdulkhaliq, Chief Executive Officer of Export Bahrain, said the event is of great significance as it would shed light on development trends in the sector. “The logistics sector is the new driver of growth in the Arabian region.

There have been a lot of supply chain deficiencies caused by the pandemic and this is the right time to discuss solutions to those challenges in the value chain. We are proud of the fact that the Kingdom has been a pioneer in introducing measures to overcome challenges in the sector, especially in the region.”

The exhibition, 18th of the series, features 30 world-class conference speakers addressing topical issues and challenges on global transportation and logistics attended by a gathering of 300 senior executive harbour masters, harbour engineers, port engineers, maintenance supervisors and procurement decision makers together with the region’s leading shippers, cargo owners, importers/exporters, shipping lines, freight forwarders, logistics companies, ports, terminal operating companies, railway operators, port equipment and services suppliers from countries throughout the GCC region. It offers an opportunity for 40 exhibitors and sponsors to network with the delegates and participants.