Kuwait’s Boasts Two Deep Seawater Ports
By Simon West
Kuwait’s boasts two deep seawater ports – Shuwaikh, the Gulf state’s oldest and largest port located close to Kuwait City and about 40 kilometers by road to the central oil and gas installations, and Shuaiba, located south of the capital.
Both are equipped to handle breakbulk destined for hydrocarbon projects, although Kuehne+Nagel’s managing director for Kuwait and Iraq, Andreas Mohr said Shuwaikh’s proximity to the capital and the dense industrial surroundings can limit the weight and dimension of oil and gas cargoes being discharged at the port.
Shuaiba meanwhile serves as an industrial port for breakbulk and bulk aggregates, and operates a small container terminal. Despite limited storage space, the facility’s infrastructure is suitable for roll-on, roll-off operations for heavy out-of-gauge cargo such as columns or reactors destined for the petrochemical industry, as well as direct discharge from heavy-lift vessels.
“The location of the port is adjacent to some of the largest petrochemical complexes and refineries in Kuwait and the close proximity to the central oilfields – this makes Shuaiba the preferred port for project cargoes,” said Mohr.
Colombia-based Simon West is senior reporter for Breakbulk.
Image credit: Shutterstock
