The shipping colossus Bahri appears to be fully aligning with Saudi Arabia’s ambitious plans in the shipbuilding sector, as it recently proceeded with a landmark order for the Middle East country.
Specifically, on Wednesday, October 1, Bahri placed an order for the construction of six bulk carriers at the Saudi shipyard International Maritime Industries (IMI). This is a landmark order, which marks the beginning of the maiden large-scale project of Saudi Arabia’s shipbuilding industry.
In particular, the order concerns the construction of six geared Ultramax bulk carriers, with a capacity of 62,823 dwt each, whose deliveries are scheduled for 2028 and 2029. The ships will be built by IMI’s advanced shipyard in Ras Al-Khair, with the total construction cost reaching $203 million. It is worth noting that Bahri holds a 19.9% stake in the IMI shipyard.
This order aligns with Saudi Arabia’s ambitious plans, which aim to develop a competitive maritime ecosystem as part of the Vision 2030 initiative. Furthermore, Riyadh plans to actively engage in the shipbuilding sector, while simultaneously supporting the integration of the supply chains of Saudi Arabia’s leading companies.
