Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata, launches the Bengal Middle East Express, a new service connecting Haldia Dock Complex to Jebel Ali Port, UAE, boosting global trade.
Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata (SMPK), has launched the Bengal Middle East Express (BMEx), a new container vessel service that directly connects the Haldia Dock Complex (HDC) with the Jebel Ali Port in the UAE. This initiative, spearheaded by Ocean Salute Line of Singapore in collaboration with MBK Logistix, marks a significant enhancement in global connectivity for the port.
The inaugural vessel, Yong Yue 11, is scheduled to arrive at HDC on September 6, 2024. The BMEx service will operate on a Haldia-Chittagong-Jebel Ali-Haldia route, effectively linking Bengal and the Eastern Indian industrial hub with a key port in the Middle East.
Rathendra Raman, Chairperson of SMP Kolkata, commended the HDC team, stating, “In today’s rapidly evolving global trade environment, efficiency and flexibility are essential. We are proud to introduce the Bengal Middle East Express service, which not only establishes a direct connection between Haldia and Jebel Ali but also opens new avenues for trade and economic growth in the region.”
To support this initiative, the port is offering substantial discounts on vessel-related charges for container vessels calling directly from South East Asia, the Far East, and Middle East ports. The BMEx service is expected to revolutionise cargo movement by reducing transit times, cutting operational costs, and bypassing traditional transshipment ports, thus enhancing supply chain efficiency and global market access for businesses in the region.
