SAL launches advanced services at new facilities in Riyadh International Airport n Saudi Arabian Logistics (SAL) has moved some of its services to the newly-launched facilities at King Khalid International Airport (KKIA-RUH) in the Kingdom’s capital Riyadh. This comes in line with SAL new operational plan aiming to enhance ground-handling services and streamline the cargo acceptance procedures through the village, which is a global integrated logistics platform for cargo and supply services. Three quality and important services will be provided from the new venue during the first phase, which are export cargo handling, domestic cargo handling and express mail services effective 20 April 2020. Omar Hariri, CEO, SAL, noted that the new facilities are a major leap in the company’s progress because the Cargo
Omar Hariri, CEO, SAL Village now offers additional capabilities. He noted that the village is the first of its kind in the region and was launched last January to contribute
effectively to trade growth and enhance all logistic services. “The movement of ground handling services to the new facilities will undoubtedly
enhance the cargo operations being provided during the Covid-19 crisis and ensure the continuity of the logistic operations and the flow of cargos,” he explained. The SAL customers will get faster services as the operational capacity has doubled and will reach 450,000 tons a year at a total area of 67,000sqm. There are 10 aircraft aprons and 15 docks for loading and unloading goods inside trucks. There are free parking areas for customers as well. The Saudi Arabian Logistics is the main cargo gate in Saudi airports and the only logistic platform linking all airports and facilitating ground handling services, electronic commerce activities, land transportation, warehouse management and storage solutions.
SOHAR Port joins SEA-LNG
n SEA-LNG recently welcomed SOHAR Port and Freezone as
its first Middle Eastern port member. SOHAR joins SEA-LNG to promote its investment in LNG bunkering facilities and the use of liquefied natural gas (LNG) as a marine fuel. SEA-LNG is the leading multi-sector industry coalition, created to accelerate the widespread adoption of LNG. MARSA LNG, a venture comprised of TOTAL and OQ, is developing a state of the art LNG liquefaction plant and bunkering facility in SOHAR Port. “This major LNG Bunkering project will generate incountry value and job opportunities, and will support industry diversification efforts by promoting shipping activities in Oman. The establishment of this facility will make SOHAR one of the key LNG bunkering facilities on the main shipping trade routes, alongside other strategic ports,” commented Mark Geilenkirchen, CEO, SOHAR Port. The project will see the provision of LNG to the shipping lines calling at SOHAR Port. The switch from traditional marine fuel oils to LNG has accelerated following the implementation of new sulphur emission limits by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in January 2020 and the IMO greenhouse gas emission targets set for 2030 and 2050.
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SOHAR Port is now a SEA-LNG member. “We welcome SOHAR to our cause of furthering the use of LNG as an important, environmentally superior maritime fuel,” remarked Peter Keller, Chairman, SEA-LNG. Due to its unique location outside the Strait of Hormuz and mid-way between Europe and Asia, SOHAR is ideally positioned to become a major LNG bunkering hub in the Middle East.