Hamad Port Adds New Hyundai's KME Service to its Network

Doha, January 14 (QNA) - Hamad Port- Qatar's gateway to world trade today announced the addition of a new service from South Korean shipping line Hyundai Merchant Marine (HMM) to its growing network list. HMM's 365.5 meter long 'Hyundai Drive' made its first call to Hamad Port on Saturday, 13 January 2018, marking the official start of a new Hyundai Merchant Marine's KME (Korea Middle East Express) service. With a capacity of 13154 and TEUs and a draft of 14 meter "Hyundai Drive" is the largest container vessel to enter Hamad Port. The new HMM's KME plans to operate weekly direct services to Hamad Port covering a number of major ports in Asia, including ports of Kwangyang, Busan (South Korea), Ningbo, Kaohsiung, Yantian and Shekou ports (China), Singapore, Port Klang (Malaysia). Commenting on this occasion, Director of Hamad Port Capt. Abdul Aziz al Yafei said: "We are pleased to announce the start of a new direct service from one of Asia's largest shipping lines to Hamad Port, which will enhance customer options and provide fast and secure solutions to local and international import / export companies with less transit time and lower cost." "This significant accomplishment comes within the framework of a comprehensive plan implemented by Mwani Qatar under the supervision of the Ministry of Transport and Communications in order to expand Hamad Port's direct shipping line networks and eliminating the intermediate ports by 100 percent, supporting port' status regionally and internationally and ensuring the stability of the domestic market", he added. The arrival of 365.5 meters long container ship "Hyundai Drive", the largest ship ever entering Hamad Port reflects world's shipping lines' confidence in Hamad Port and its ability to handle world mega vessels thanks to modern technology available through Port, which makes it one of largest and most intelligent ports in the region, Al Yafei said. He noted that Hamad Port has achieved significant achievements at the regional and international levels in a short period of time, adding that the port in 2017 received a total of 1748 vessels and handled 772835 TEU containers, 1165180 general cargo tons, 606412 heads of livestock and 65096 of RORO. Hyundai Merchant Marine (HMM) is a leading global shipping company operating over 130 state-of-the-art vessels encompassing more than 60 sea routes to over 100 ports of call. Established in 1976, HMM is currently one of the top 5 Trans-Pacific carriers and one of the top 10 carriers in the global shipping industry. (QNA)