Folk Maritime, supported by the Public Investment Fund, has introduced the India Gulf Service, a new liner route linking Saudi Arabia’s Dammam port with Umm Qasr in Iraq and India’s ports, Nhava Sheva and Mundra. This makes Folk Maritime the first Saudi company to offer extensive connectivity across key Arabian Gulf ports.
Aligning with Vision 2030
The India Gulf Service launched with the m/v Asterios, a modern 1800 TEU container vessel, and will initially operate bi-weekly, transitioning to weekly by December 2024. This route builds on Folk Maritime’s recent expansion, enhancing trade with India in sectors like consumer goods and petrochemicals.
Poul Hestbaek, CEO of Folk Maritime, expressed enthusiasm about the new service, emphasizing its role in filling a critical logistics gap and supporting Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 to become a leading logistics hub.
Strengthening Saudi-India Trade Ties
This initiative strengthens Saudi-India trade relations, with Dammam playing a crucial role in the global supply chain by handling 2.7 million TEUs annually. Chief Commercial Officer Kim Larsen highlighted the expansion of service routes to meet customer needs, marking the India Gulf Express Service as a major achievement.
Folk Maritime’s strategic connections across all major Saudi ports underscore its commitment to enhancing the Kingdom’s logistics capabilities, supporting economic diversification and global trade goals in line with Vision 2030.
