Milaha Sets Up Reefer Service Between Qatar and Turkey

Marine transport and logistics conglomerate Qatar Navigation (Milaha) has launched the first direct reefer service between Qatar and Turkey.

“Trade volumes between Qatar and Turkey have significantly increased over the past few months, and we are launching this service as a … solution for this growing demand. This service … complements our existing services, and will further enhance connectivity and facilitate trade between Qatari, Arabian Gulf, and Turkish importers and exporters,” Abdulrahman Essa Al-Mannai, Milaha’s President and CEO, explained.

Over the past few weeks, Milaha had arranged two ad hoc voyages of reefer vessels from Turkey to Qatar; however, the company has moved to regularize the service, with departures every 20-25 days between Hamad Port and Port of Izmir, with a transit time of 11 days.

The new service will be initially operated with one vessel with a capacity of over 5,000 tons per voyage, and will cater mainly to temperature-controlled cargo and breakbulk, with the option of adding containers upon request, according to Milaha.

Last week,  Milaha also launched the first ever direct feeder service between Qatar and Kuwait. The new service, named Kuwait Qatar Express Service (KQX), will operate between Hamad Port in Qatar and Shuwaikh Port in Kuwait once a week initially, using a 515 TEU vessel.

Currently, the company calls two ports in Oman, three ports in India and one port in Kuwait. What is more, Milaha said it is “actively evaluating” further expansion of services.