Kamal Ghorui
As maritime activity faces disruptions across the region, Saudi Arabia has introduced a new initiative to streamline essential services for vessels, aiming to ensure operational continuity and strengthen supply chains. Saudi Arabia’s General Authority for Ports, Mawani, has announced the launch of an initiative to provide integrated services for ships operating in the Eastern Region. The move is designed to make key supplies and operational support more accessible, allowing vessels to receive services directly and without delay. The initiative covers a wide range of essential services required for maritime operations. These include the supply of fuel, water, food and medicines, along with crew change services and other operational needs. The goal is to ensure that ships can continue their operations smoothly while docked at ports in the region. Mawani stated that it will utilise its capabilities across Eastern Region ports to deliver these services in a faster and more coordinated manner. As part of the rollout, the authority will provide an updated list of approved ship suppliers and fuel service providers. This will allow ship owners and operators to coordinate directly with service providers, improving efficiency and reducing delays. To support the initiative, Mawani’s customer service and knowledge centre will operate around the clock. The centre will handle inquiries and facilitate service requests, with the aim of improving response times and overall service quality. The authority said the initiative is part of its broader efforts to support maritime activity, strengthen the reliability of supply chains and ensure that Saudi ports remain fully operational under all conditions. The launch comes at a time of increased regional tension, including disruptions to navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and continued attacks affecting parts of the region. These developments have had an impact on maritime traffic and energy markets, making the need for reliable port operations more critical.
