Container services begin from RAK to Iraq

Ras Al Khaimah: The arrival of the Sima Tina on Thursday marked the beginning a container service linking the KGL Ports International Container Terminal at Ras Al Khaimah directly with Umm Qasr in Iraq.

A total of 134 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) were loaded on the vessel - the first export containers shipped directly from Mina Saqr to Umm Qasr.

Simatech Shipping will provide a regular container service from Ras Al Khaimah to Iraq. This will now give RAK exporters a direct service, with no transshipment via other UAE ports, to the country.

The Sima Tina has a dead weight tonnage (DWT) of 20,578 tonnes, a capacity of 1,152 TEUs and 50 reefers, and a speed of 15 knots. Osama Hussain, KGL PI's deputy managing director at Mina Saqr Container Terminal said: "The KGLPI Container Terminal, with state-of-the-art container handling equipment, skilled terminal staff and the Navis container terminal management system, is able to provide shipping lines with a fast and efficient container handling operation at RAK." "This new service adds to our existing Gulf services directly linking RAK with Bandar Abbas, Karachi, Mundra and Mumbai - with no delays and no transshipment via other UAE ports."

KGL Ports International manages the Mina Saqr terminal under a long-term concession from the RAK Government.