Folk Maritime Services Company has announced the launch of a new service route connecting key Arabian Gulf ports, including Dammam, Umm Qasr, and two of India’s largest commercial ports, Nhava Sheva and Mundra.
The India Gulf Service will have its first Dammam call on 30 October, by the 1,800 TEU boxship Asterios. The vessel will carry import cargo from India before proceeding to Umm Qasr. The service, initially beginning as a 14-day service, will gradually ramp up to become a weekly product by December.
The new route follows the launch of the India Red Sea service in September. Both routes serve to strengthen trade ties with India, facilitating the movement of consumer goods, petrochemicals, and other essential commodities, reinforcing the growing ‘friend-sourcing’ partnership between Saudi Arabia and India.
Announcing the new India Gulf Service, CEO of Folk Maritime Poul Hestbaek said, “We are excited to introduce our first service to the Arabian Gulf, which fills a critical gap in the logistics supply chain and supports our mission to connect ports, industries, and world-leading liners. Opening this route aligns with Vision 2030 to position Saudi Arabia as a leading logistics hub, it strategically places Dammam, a key player in meeting the Vision 2030 goal, as a logistics hub center and marks a significant milestone for Folk Maritime as the first Saudi company to offer this service.”
