Dammam: Folk Maritime Services Company, a subsidiary of Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, has launched a new regional shipping route named the "India-Arabian Gulf Service." This route will connect key Gulf Cooperation Council ports, such as Dammam and Umm Qasr, with significant commercial ports in India, including Nhava Sheva and Mundra. According to Jordan News Agency, the inaugural vessel for this service, the "Asterius," has a capacity of 1,827 twenty-foot equivalent units. Initially, the service will operate on a 14-day schedule, with plans to transition to a weekly schedule by December. The primary objectives of these new liner routes are to strengthen trade relations with India, facilitate the movement of consumer goods, petrochemicals, and other essential commodities, and support the growing strategic partnership between Saudi Arabia and India. The service is poised to enhance regional connectivity and access to international markets, with a focus on Asian, African, and European trade routes. Da mmam Port, one of the top 10 largest ports in the Middle East, handles and manages 2.7 million twenty-foot equivalent units annually, asserting its role as a key player in regional and global supply chains. Folk Maritime Services Company stands as the first Saudi company to offer liner and tributary services within Saudi Arabia and the region. Through these new routes, the company aims to provide reliable, efficient, and strategically important maritime services to meet the growing demands of regional trade.
