Date: August 9
In the world of shipping and container management, innovation and adaptability are essential to keep up with changing demands and emerging challenges. Saudi Arabia, with its forward-thinking vision and focus on technology, has unveiled a project that promises to revolutionize the industry: Oxagon.
The "Neom" mega-project, promoted by Saudi Arabia, aims to transform a modest local port into a towering center of commerce and manufacturing near the Suez Canal. This ambitious proposal seeks to compete with the largest facilities in the Middle East, marking a milestone in the history of shipping.
Oxagon, an industrial city promoted by Neom, is positioned as the epicenter of this transformation. Vishal Wanchoo, chief executive of Oxagon, has shared that an existing port near the Red Sea city of Dhiba will be redeveloped to handle a container capacity of 3.5 to 4 million tonnes equivalent (TEU) by 2030. This capacity could even double, reaching up to 9 million TEU, depending on the growth and development of Oxagon.
The Jebel Ali port in Dubai, known as the largest in the region, has a capacity of more than 19 million TEU. However, Oxagon, with its innovative and sustainable approach, promises to offer state-of-the-art container handling solutions, taking advantage of its “greenfield” position and the most advanced technologies available.
Neom, announced in 2017, is a flagship initiative by Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, who is seeking to reform Saudi Arabia's economy away from its dependence on oil. The vision is to turn a remote region on the kingdom's northwest coast into a cutting-edge technology hub, powered by automation and artificial intelligence.
Oxagon, with its futuristic design that includes a complex that "floats" on the sea, is a testament to Neom's ambitions. This 50 square kilometer area is expected to house 80,000 to 90,000 residents and accommodate 40 to 50 businesses by 2030.
The first phase of construction, which will run until 2025, will focus on land-based development, while the floating area is still in the early design stages. With the challenges of climate change and rising sea levels, Oxagon seeks to be a modern solution, similar to a "Venice of the future", designed to adapt and thrive in these changing conditions.
In short, Oxagon represents the future of container management and shipping. With its innovative, sustainable and technologically advanced approach, it promises to revolutionize the industry and set new standards for global trade.
Source: MasContainer
