Plans to manufacture ship components locally, test autonomous vessels by 2027-end: TGA President

Saudi Arabia’s Transport General Authority (TGA) President Fawaz Al-Sahli outlined plans to develop the Kingdom’s maritime transport industry, including establishing Saudi companies specializing in ship component manufacturing and forming partnerships to test autonomous vessels by the end of 2027.

The plans also aim to expand the role of national companies in the transport and logistics sectors, he said.

Speaking to Al Eqtisadiah newspaper on the sidelines of the seventh Saudi Maritime and Logistics Congress in Jeddah, Al-Sahli said local ship component manufacturing aims to strengthen the Kingdom’s maritime industrial capabilities and support the establishment of specialized Saudi companies.

Partnerships will also be formed to test autonomous vessels and keep pace with technological advances in the sector.

In the land transport and logistics sector, he said around 500,000 trucks connect ports and factories to final destinations across Saudi cities and Gulf countries.

Al-Sahli said alliances between Saudi, Spanish, and Chinese transport companies aim to boost market competitiveness and expand services.