Dammam, Saudi Arabia — Saudi’s General Authority for Ports (Mawani) recently announced that MSC’s new Chinook Clanga service will now deploy at King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam and Jubail Commercial Port. The MSC Chinook Clanga Saudi service will connect both major eastern gateways to 16 regional and international ports. This inauguration underscores the Kingdom’s growing role as a critical logistics hub.
The Chinook Clanga service covers destinations including Bahrain, Qatar, India, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Vietnam, China, South Korea, the US, and Canada. Available cargo capacity reaches up to 14,000 TEUs x.com+12linerlytica.com+12x.com+12. This expanded connectivity aligns with Vision 2030’s National Transport and Logistics Strategy (NTLS) and marks a significant step forward in boosting export competitiveness.
King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam features 43 handling berths with a capacity of up to 105 million tons. Jubail Commercial Port handles various vessel types at up to 36 million tons. Both operate with advanced systems to manage this service efficiently.
MSC Chinook Clanga expands Saudi logistics hub strategy
Mawani aims to strengthen Saudi Arabia’s ranking in global logistics indices. Introducing Chinook Clanga extends the Kingdom’s reach to 16 ports across three continents. Destinations include Bahrain’s Khalifa Bin Salman, Qatar’s Hamad Port, India’s Nhava Sheva, Sri Lanka’s Colombo, Singapore, Vietnam’s Vung Tau and Hai Phong, China’s Nansha, Yantian, Ningbo, Shanghai, Qingdao, South Korea’s Busan, and North America via Seattle, Vancouver, and Prince Rupert sahmcapital.com+5dubaimaritimenews.com+5arabnews.com+5linerlytica.com.
This corridor supports seamless export flows in line with the NTLS targets, reinforcing Saudi Arabia’s positioning in global maritime logistics.
King Abdulaziz and Jubail ports scale capacity for MSC service
King Abdulaziz Port’s 43 berths and handling capability of 105 million tons demonstrate Mawani’s commitment to scale. Jubail Commercial Port contributes with 36 million tons capacity and modern berthing infrastructure. These capacities align with anticipated throughput from the MSC service.
Operational efficiency gains should follow, and integration with the MSC network will reduce transit time and cost for exporters.
Alignment with National Transport and Logistics Strategy
Connecting major Saudi hubs to Asia, North America, and the Gulf enhances the Nation’s NTLS ambition to become a global logistics nexus. Mawani’s move strengthens national export corridors, optimizes supply chains, and supports industrial output—especially from Jubail Industrial City. Moreover, King Abdulaziz Port’s increased service orbit will improve multimodal connectivity across the Eastern Province.
Saudi Standard’s View: Strategic Positioning Through Maritime Expansion
The integration of the MSC Chinook Clanga Saudi service represents more than a logistical enhancement. It reflects a policy-backed shift in Saudi Arabia’s economic geography. By bridging the industrial east to global demand centers in Asia and North America, the move aligns commercial ports with sovereign strategic intent.
Jubail and Dammam are not merely beneficiaries of increased port calls—they are instruments in a broader transport architecture envisioned under the National Transport and Logistics Strategy. Each added service brings with it multipliers: faster export cycles, optimized freight costs, and greater appeal for industrial investment.
Saudi Arabia’s growing maritime connectivity must now be matched by digital logistics infrastructure, customs facilitation, and hinterland transport upgrades. The Kingdom’s success as a global logistics hub will depend on synchronizing port operations with inland economic zones, especially in the Eastern Province.
This move, while technical in nature, is strategic in implication. The Saudi Standard sees it as a practical step toward transforming Vision 2030 from blueprint to throughput.
