The National Shipping Company of Saudi Arabia (NSCSA), encouraged by the strong and loyal support from various constituents of the trade, has decided to add Mundra as part of its regular liner service effective MV Saudi Diriyah Voy. 151, ETA Mundra June 6, according to Exim News Service.

NSCSA will continue to deploy multipurpose vessels catering to ro-ro (SPVs, cars, etc), projects, pure break-bulk, and break-bulk on Mafi, special and dry containers. Calling Mundra was found to be most suitable for NSCSA type of operations and the decision was taken after careful evaluation of the trade, stressed an official release. It expressed confidence that the Mundra call would benefit the trade, the Port as well as NSCSA.

The inclusion of Mundra as a port of call in NSCSA’s general cargo schedule will immensely benefit the ex-im trade based in North and North West India, it was emphasised. And the traffic will not be limited to containers, but also cater to break-bulk and ro-ro. Thus, the trade in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana and National Capital Region will now be able to avail of an efficient service for sectors like USEC, Canada East Coast, etc. offered by NSCSA in view of direct calls from Mundra to the East Coast of the US and US Gulf, Canada, Livorno and Jeddah.

The port rotation will be: Dammam, Mesaieed, Jebel Ali, Port Qasim, Mundra, Mumbai Port, Jeddah, Livorno, Baltimore, Houston, Savannah, Baltimore, New York, Halifax, Jeddah, Dammam.

The Mundra call announcement coincides with a major deal signed by NSCSA with shipbuilder Hyundai MIPO of South Korea for new general cargo multipurpose vessels.