Ports in Kuwait
Kuwaiti Ports are the window for the State to the external world. They contributed much in Kuwait economic and constructional development. Kuwait has three important ports, which are Shuwaikh Port, Shuaiba Port and Doha Port. Kuwait, officially named the ‘State of Kuwait’, is a country in Western Asia. It shares its borders with Iraq to the north and Saudi Arabia to the South. Kuwait has a long coastal line of approximately 499 km long. Because of such a long coastal line, Kuwait has become a significant port country. The ports of Kuwait play a vital role in the export and import trade in the world. They connect to all the other major ports of the world through crucial shipping lines.
Kuwait Ports
Shuwaikh Port
The Shuwaikh Port is the primary commercial port of Kuwait, with a total of 21 berths. Of them, around 14 berths stand at a depth of 10 meters, four berths at 8.5 meters depth, and three berths are 6.7 meters depth. The vessels that travel to and from Shuwaikh port pass through a navigation channel in Kuwait Bay. This navigation channel is 8 km long and has a depth of 8.5 meters. The port also can receive ships with 7.5 meters draft at low tides and vessels of 9.6 meters at high tide. The Shuwaikh Port is managed and operated by the Port Authority of Kuwait and has all the modern facilities to cater to every need. The Shuwaikh Port is located in the heart of Kuwait city and spreads across 4.4 million square meters, and the basin is measured at around 1.2 million square meters.
Kuwait Ports
Shuaiba Port
It is the second vital part of Kuwait, with high platforms that handle commercial traffic, container vessels and an oil products platform. The Kuwait National Petroleum Company handles the oil platform. The Shuaiba Port also has 20 berths that vary in depths of 10- 14 meters. Four of them handle container vessels. The oil pier of Shuwaikh port stands at a water depth of 16 meters. In addition to the above, the port houses two mini sea craft and barge basins. The Shuaiba Port is located 45 km south of Kuwait City and is the second-largest port in the country, which handles commercial traffic. This port handles general cargo, containers, tankers and barges. The Shuaiba Port is surrounded by an industrial estate that includes a petroleum refinery, a complex of petrochemical plants, a cement plant, a chlorine and soda factory, a desalination plant and a power station.
Kuwait Ports
Doha Port
Listing third in the port list is the Doha Port of Kuwait. Doha Port is a mini coastal port that stands at a depth of 4.3 meters. The Doha port primarily `handles crafts, barges and small ships that travel through Gulf countries. However, it also includes vessels that conduct coastal services. The Doha Port is a half-closed basin that extends by wave partitions. The Doha Port is located in Doha and is close to some of the most popular tourist destinations of the country, like Doha Corniche and Souq Waqif. The Milaha Port Services control this port. There is also a cruise terminal to accommodate luxury yachts and big cruise liners. Additionally, the port also offers several convenient facilities for passengers like easy immigration, effortless customs, cashless foreign exchange, taxi and bus stands, Kuwait bus tours, Qatar Duty-Free, a lounge cafe, and waiting restrooms for cruise passengers and staff.