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Saudi National Shipping Company (Bahri) has placed an order for six dry bulk carriers from International Maritime Industries (IMI), marking the launch of the kingdom’s first large-scale shipbuilding project.
The vessels will be built at IMI’s shipyard in Ras Al-Khair, described as the most advanced full-service maritime facility in the Middle East and North Africa.
The deal underlines Saudi Arabia’s ambition to establish a globally competitive maritime ecosystem under its Vision 2030 economic diversification plan and the Saudi Inc initiative, aimed at boosting supply chain localisation.
Defining moment for Saudi’s maritime industry: Bahri CEO
“This agreement marks a strategic milestone for Bahri and a defining moment for the maritime industry in the kingdom,” Bahri chief executive Ahmed Ali Al-Subaey said in a statement. “Through our partnership with International Maritime Industries to launch the first large-scale national shipbuilding program, we are not only modernising our fleet but also laying the foundations for a sustainable and globally competitive maritime sector.”
Al-Subaey added that the new carriers will expand Bahri’s service in strategic markets, strengthen supply chain resilience and deliver long-term value to customers and stakeholders, in line with Saudi Vision 2030 objectives.
The new geared Ultramax vessels are designed to provide operational flexibility and efficiency, with the ability to access ports with limited infrastructure.
Bahri said this would allow it to tap into niche markets and emerging trade routes, reducing exposure to market volatility while improving competitiveness and sustainability.
