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Saudi Arabia has introduced a new maritime shipping service connecting Jeddah Islamic Port with the Port of Salalah in Oman and the Port of Djibouti, marking another significant step in the Kingdom’s strategy to strengthen regional logistics integration and reinforce its role as a global trade hub. The service, launched by the Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani), is designed to improve cargo movement across the Red Sea corridor while enhancing connectivity between Asia, Africa and the Middle East.
The newly launched route is expected to support faster cargo transit, improve supply chain resilience and create more efficient trade flows for regional importers and exporters. According to reports, the service has a carrying capacity of approximately 1,730 TEUs and is part of broader initiatives aligned with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 economic diversification agenda.
Industry observers view the development as strategically important amid ongoing geopolitical and maritime security concerns in the region, particularly disruptions affecting commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. As shipping lines and cargo owners seek alternative and more secure trade corridors, Saudi Arabia has accelerated investment in Red Sea infrastructure and port connectivity.
Jeddah Islamic Port remains one of the Kingdom’s most critical maritime gateways, handling a substantial share of Saudi Arabia’s imports and transshipment cargo. The addition of direct links to Salalah and Djibouti strengthens Saudi Arabia’s access to East African markets while also improving feeder connectivity to major international shipping networks operating through Oman’s Port of Salalah, a key regional transshipment hub.
The launch also reflects Mawani’s broader push to enhance operational efficiency across Saudi ports and attract additional global shipping services. In recent months, the authority has announced several new regional and international shipping routes, including the “Red Sea Express” service linking Yanbu with ports in Egypt and Jordan. These initiatives are intended to reduce transit times, improve port competitiveness and support non-oil exports.
Saudi Arabia continues to position its western coastline and Red Sea ports as strategic alternatives for global trade movement, particularly as supply chains increasingly prioritize diversification and resilience. The Kingdom’s investments in logistics infrastructure, customs modernization and multimodal connectivity are central to its ambition of becoming a leading logistics hub connecting three continents.
For the regional shipping and logistics sector, the Jeddah–Salalah–Djibouti service signals growing momentum toward stronger intra-regional maritime integration. Analysts believe the corridor could help facilitate higher trade volumes, improve supply chain flexibility and create new opportunities for cargo operators serving Red Sea and East African markets.
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The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways has approved a โน334.89-crore internal flyover at Visakhapatnam Port Authority (VPA) to ease cargo evacuation, reduce congestion and improve the movement of vehicles within the port. The 3.584-km elevated corridor will connect Convent Junction with the Dock Area, separating road and rail traffic and addressing delays caused by frequent closures at nine railway level crossings. The crossings reportedly see around 18 gate closures each day due to high train exchange volumes, resulting in vehicle queues, longer waiting times, increased fuel consumption and higher operating costs. The project was approved by Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal and appraised by the Delegated Investment Board, chaired by the Ministryโs Secretary. Sonowal said the project would address a critical bottleneck at the port and enable faster, more efficient cargo movement. The scope includes civil and electrical works, utility shifting, safety installations and five years of maintenance. Construction will be planned to minimise disruption to ongoing port operations, particularly in key dock areas. The elevated corridor is expected to reduce road-rail conflicts and improve last-mile connectivity, supporting smoother cargo evacuation from the port. The project is aligned with the governmentโs broader focus on integrated infrastructure development under the PM GatiShakti framework. The flyover is scheduled for completion within 30 months of commencement and is expected to strengthen the operational efficiency of Visakhapatnam Port and its role in Indiaโs maritime logistics network. Follow CARGOCONNECT for more such updates
The Indian government is developing a comprehensive customs playbook covering 100 high-value imported commodities to streamline the country's faceless customs regime, reduce assessment disputes, and enable businesses to access tariff concessions under India's expanding network of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) more efficiently. The initiative forms part of the next phase of customs reforms aimed at improving trade facilitation and enhancing the ease of doing business. According to officials familiar with the development, the proposed framework will introduce detailed Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for each identified product category. These SOPs will provide commodity-specific and origin-specific assessment guidelines, ensuring uniform interpretation of customs rules across ports and customs formations operating under the faceless assessment system. A key objective of the initiative is to simplify the process of claiming preferential tariff benefits available under India's recently concluded FTAs. The playbook is expected to minimise inconsistencies in customs assessments, reduce clearance delays, and lower the number of queries raised during the processing of Bills of Entry. As part of the proposed reforms, customs offiย ย cers handling faceless assessments will be encouraged to limit queries on each Bill of Entry to a maximum of three. The framework will also introduce greater accountability by tracking assessment timelines and holding officers responsible for unnecessary delays. These measures are intended to improve consistency in decision-making while making import clearances more predictable for businesses. The government introduced the faceless customs assessment mechanism to eliminate physical interaction between importers and customs officials, improve transparency, and create a technology-driven clearance process. While the system has strengthened digital processing, businesses have continued to report varying interpretations of customs provisions across assessment groups, particularly in relation to Rules of Origin and eligibility for FTA benefits. According to experts, a standardised assessment framework will help address these challenges by providing clear guidance for customs officers and importers alike. The move is also expected to strengthen confidence among businesses seeking to leverage preferential market access under India's growing portfolio of trade agreements, while supporting faster cargo movement, reducing transaction costs, and improving overall supply chain efficiency. ๐๐ญ๐๐ฒย ๐๐ฎ๐ง๐๐ย ๐ญ๐จย CARGOCONNECTย ๐๐จ๐ซย ๐ฅ๐๐ญ๐๐ฌ๐ญย ๐ฎ๐ฉ๐๐๐ญ๐๐ฌ!
India has emerged as the world's second-largest supplier of seafarers, marking a significant milestone for the country's maritime sector. According to the BIMCO-ICS Seafarer Workforce Report 2026, India now contributes 311,936 seafarers, accounting for 12.16% of the global maritime workforce. The country ranks behind only the Philippines, overtaking China, Russia and Indonesia.ย The achievement reflects India's rapid progress in developing skilled maritime professionals over the past decade. In 2015, India accounted for just 5.2% of the global seafaring workforce and ranked fifth worldwide. Although its share increased to 6% by 2021, the country remained in fifth position. The latest report highlights a sharp rise in both numbers and global ranking, underscoring the impact of sustained investments in maritime education, training and employment.ย India's contribution is particularly strong in the officer segment. The country supplies 140,718 officers, representing 13.41% of the global officer workforce, while 171,218 ratings account for 11.29% of the world's ratings serving on merchant vessels. The report estimates the global seafaring workforce at 2.57 million, against a demand of 2.55 million, highlighting a tightening labour market and an ongoing shortage of qualified officers.ย Following the report, Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal announced the government's Mission 20% initiative, which aims to increase India's share of the global seafaring workforce from 12.16% to 20%. The initiative focuses on expanding maritime training capacity, strengthening shipboard training opportunities, promoting industry-academia collaboration, leveraging digital technologies and encouraging greater participation of women in maritime careers.ย India's rise as a leading supplier of maritime professionals is expected to further strengthen its position in the global shipping industry while supporting the growing demand for skilled seafarers worldwide. Follow CARGOCONNECT for more such updates
