The King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam has received its first fully liquefied natural gas (LNG) powered container ship, marking a significant milestone in the Kingdom’s shift towards environmentally friendly transport. Named CMA CGM SYMI, this is the first vessel of its kind to arrive at the ports of Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Region.
With a capacity of over 15,000 standard containers, the ship measures 366 meters in length, 51 meters in width, and has a depth of 16 meters. The General Authority for Ports stated that the vessel, which entered service in 2022 and operates under the French shipping line CMA CGM, reflects the high readiness of Saudi ports to accommodate such types of ships.
The arrival of the LNG-powered vessel reinforces the Kingdom’s position as a leading logistics hub and a connecting axis for the three continents. Furthermore, it amplifies the competitive capabilities of King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam and its container terminal operator, Saudi Global Ports (SGP), which boasts high-tech logistic equipment, enhancing its operational capabilities to handle various types of cargo and containers.
This step is in line with the goals of the Saudi Green Initiative, aiming to reduce carbon emissions by 278 million tons annually by 2030. The initiative seeks to encourage the reception of such vessels, signaling the Kingdom’s commitment to environmental sustainability.
It’s worth mentioning that Jeddah Islamic Port had welcomed the Jack Saade, another LNG-powered vessel from the French line CMA CGM, in 2021. This was the first and largest fully LNG-powered container ship globally, boasting a capacity of 23,000 containers, with a length of 400 meters and a width of 61 meters. The ship had been completed and put into service in September 2020. This heralds a new era for the Kingdom as it champions cleaner, more sustainable shipping methods.
