In Historic First Bahri and IMI to Launch Made In Saudi Arabia Ocean-Going Vessels
In a landmark move that signals Saudi Arabia’s aspiration to become a global maritime-industrial player, the National Shipping Company of Saudi Arabia (Bahri) and International Maritime Industries (IMI) have unveiled the country’s first order for large, Saudi-built ocean-going vessels.
The agreement, in which six dry bulk carriers to be built at IMI’s Ras Al-Khair yard, marks a symbolic and strategic turning point in the Kingdom’s ambition to localize its maritime supply chains and reshape its industrial identity.
From Vision to Vessel: The Strategic Backdrop
Saudi Vision 2030, the Kingdom’s roadmap for diversification beyond oil, identifies maritime logistics, transport infrastructure, and industrial localization as major pillars of future growth. The shipbuilding announcement aligns squarely with that vision signalling that Saudi Arabia does not want to be a user of maritime assets but a builder and exporter of them.
The IMI shipyard, located in Ras Al-Khair (on the country’s eastern coast), is already one of the largest full-service maritime complexes in the MENA region.
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The broader King Salman Global Maritime Industries Complex, within which IMI operates, was conceived as a world-class shipyard capable of shipbuilding, repair, rig construction, and ancillary marine industries. The idea has always been that, over time, Saudi Arabia will convert itself from a maritime consumer to an integrated maritime production hub.
This recent move of placing a major new order with IMI shifts the ambition from concept to execution.
Six Geared Ultramax Dry Bulk Vessels
The order involves six geared Ultramax dry bulk carriers, each designed with onboard cranes. This design choice is not trivial: such ships can call at ports with limited infrastructure, giving them flexibility to tap into secondary or emerging trade routes.
The total value of the order is estimated at around US$203–206 million for the full batch. Scheduled deliveries stretch between 2028 and 2029.
For Bahri, this deal serves two immediate goals of fleet modernization and strategic supply-chain fortification thus reducing dependence on external shipbuilders and laying the groundwork for future domestic growth.
Eng. Ahmed Ali Al-Subaey, CEO of Bahri, said: “This agreement marks a strategic milestone for Bahri and a defining moment for the maritime industry in the Kingdom.
"Through our partnership with International Maritime Industries to launch the first large-scale national shipbuilding program, we are not only modernizing our fleet but also laying the foundations for a sustainable and globally competitive maritime sector."
Why This Matters: Building Competitive Edge
Several factors make this step potentially transformative:
Local value capture: If associate supply chains of steel fabrication, marine equipment, engine systems, coatings, design and engineering get localized, the ripple benefits to Saudi industry could be substantial.
Skilled jobs and know-how transfer: Building large ocean-going vessels domestically demands a robust workforce of naval architects, marine engineers, welders, skilled laborers, and quality assurance personnel. Over time, that builds a technical ecosystem.
Export potential: As IMI scales its capabilities, Saudi yards might compete for external contracts - especially from regional or mid-scale vessel operators who prefer closer, lower-cost yards.
Strategic sovereignty and maritime autonomy: In an era of supply‐chain disruptions, having a domestic shipbuilding base offers strategic resilience. For a country whose global trade is vital, that autonomy matters.
Catalyst for further cluster development: A successful shipbuilding push could stimulate adjacent industries like ports, marine services, R&D, component manufacturing, electronics, and even ship recycling.
That said, challenges lie ahead: shipbuilding is capital-intensive, cyclical, and competitive. Saudi yards will need to match global quality, cost, and delivery standards. They’ll also need to attract recurring new orders beyond internal anchor customers.
Looking Ahead: Saudi Arabia’s Shipbuilding Future
The IMI–Bahri vessel order is emblematic of Saudi Arabia’s evolving industrial posture. It reflects clear ambition: the Kingdom intends to be more than an exporter of raw materials - it wants mastery over higher-value maritime manufacturing.
If that ambition is matched with disciplined execution, high quality, innovation, and continuous learning, Saudi Arabia could become a new anchor point in global shipbuilding.
By 2030 or beyond, the hope is that thes wont be the “first Saudi-built vessels,” but rather one among many and that Saudi shipyards will be recognized not merely as domestic utilities but as credible, global competitors in a strategically vital industry.
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