Bahri announces start of trial commissioning of first barge near Al Shuqaiq Port

A carrier of Bahri

The National Shipping Company of Saudi Arabia (Bahri) announced that the trial commissioning of the first barge started today, Jan. 23, near the Port of Al Shuqaiq on the western coast of Saudi Arabia.

The company said in a bourse filing that the design took into account that the barges will be transported as per the needs of the regions across the Kingdom.

Bahri expects the project to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2022, pointing out that the delay happened due to the pandemic constraints.

The previously announced cost remains unchanged and there will be no financial impact resulting from the delay.

The barges will ensure consistent high availability levels and compliance with all applicable international and local codes and standards.

Any further material development will be announced by the company in due course.

According to data compiled by Argaam, Bahri signed in December 2019 a SAR 760 million agreement with Saline Water Conversion Corporation (SWCC) to transfer desalinated water from mobile water floating stations to desalination tanks.

The 20-year project was expected to begin commercial operations in Q1 2021.