Port Houston welcomes the MV Bahri Diriyah

Port Houston welcomed the Bahri Diriyah, a multipurpose dry cargo vessel, to its Turning Basin Terminal earlier this month. This vessel was making its maiden voyage to Houston from Dammam, Saudi Arabia. The arrival of the Bahri Diriyah underscores Port Houston’s role as a key gateway for international trade. It strengthens its strategic ties with the Middle East—a region that now represents 8% of the Port’s total market share.

“We are excited to welcome the Bahri Diriyah on its first visit to Port Houston,” said Charlie Jenkins, CEO at Port Houston. “This maiden voyage highlights our commitment to growing the region’s role in the global supply chain and offering our customers efficient operations. We’re proud to support the diverse cargo needs in the Houston area.”

The Bahri Diriyah, captained by Robert Kaczmarek and crewed by a team of 28, is equipped to burn low-sulfur diesel. With 636.2 feet in length and 95.3 feet in width, this 31,241-ton vessel brings substantial capacity, holding up to 39,509 cubic meters of general cargo. Operating as a tramp vessel, meaning the Bahri Diriyah will call Port Houston on an as-needed basis, further supports flexible and timely cargo solutions for Houston’s trade community.

“Bahri Line is thrilled to announce the maiden call of our new multi-purpose vessel, MV Bahri Diriyah, at Port Houston,” said Rajith Aykkara, VP of Bahri Line. “Houston is one of our largest markets, and this milestone underscores our strong partnership with Port Houston. As we expand our multi-purpose fleet, we look forward to continued growth with the support of our valued customers.”

Port Houston’s multi-purpose terminals, known as the Turning Basin Terminal or City Docks, opened for business more than one hundred years ago. Today it is the area’s largest breakbulk facility and handles a variety of cargos including steel, dry bulk, wind power equipment, lumber, and other cargoes.