Bahri Abha Makes Its Maiden Call to Jacksonville Port, USA

The National Shipping Company of Saudi Arabia (Bahri) announced that its General Cargo Vessel Bahri Abha made its maiden call to Jacksonville Port Blount Island Marine Terminal on 6th May 2013 to load vehicles and other cargoes headed to the Middle East.
The vessel is the first of six new general cargo vessels that Bahri has placed into service calling the U.S. East Coast and Arabian Gulf ports. These new vessels are specialized in carrying general and project cargo, equipped with heavy lift cranes with a capacity of 240 tons enabling them to load different type of goods.
Engr. Saleh Al-Jasser, Bahri CEO stated, “this port call is in-line with the company’s decision announced on 20th March 2013 to add potential ports, improve voyage utilization and allow access to a larger market”.
Jacksonville is the top Roll-on-Roll-off (RoRo) cargo loading port on the North America Eastern and Gulf Coast into the Middle East, Africa and Indian sub-continent regions.
It is also to be noted that, Bahri received the second new general cargo vessel “ Bahri Hofuf ” on 30th April, 2013.
Bahri General Cargo’s current port rotation is Baltimore (import), Houston, Jacksonville, Savannah, Charleston, Wilmington (NC), Baltimore (export), New York, Halifax, Jeddah (eastbound), Jebel Ali, Dammam, Mesaieed, Mumbai, Mundra, Jeddah (westbound) and Livorno.
Bahri has four general cargo vessels remaining under construction at Hyundai MIPO in South Korea with delivery expected to take place during 2013 and the first half of 2014.

Bahri, May 12, 2013; Image: Shipspotting