Crowding crisis continues at Jeddah port

Jeddah: The crisis at Jeddah Islamic Seaport in Saudi Arabia caused by a lack of facilities for trans-shipments shows no signs of being resolved soon.

The General Seaport Authority has been approached by seaport workers to reconsider the continuation of trans-shipment services due to the lack of necessary facilities at the seaport to absorb the loading containers of incoming ships.

Several merchants and customs agents have suggested that the size of the trans-shipment service offered by the seaports to container ships be considerably reduced to make more space available for local containers.

They have called upon officials at the port to overlook the financial gains generated from the transshipment service, at least for the time being, to help resolve the crisis, local newspapers said.

Ebrahim Al Ugali, Chairman of the Customs Clearers Committee, has said that the authorities should grant the request, in order to ease the crisis and its negative effect on the price of essential commodities.

Nashwa Taher, Chairperson of the Commercial Committee at the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce, who is responsible for the formation of a joint team to find a solution to this ongoing crisis, has complained that seaport traffic and customs officials have yet to name their representatives. She urged the three agencies to name their representatives as soon as possible.

As of now, many ships have gone to other seaports in the Gulf to unload their cargo to avoid the overcrowding at Jeddah seaport.