Bahri opens second North American office in Houston

(L-R) Ricky Kunz, Chief Commercial Officer, Port of Houston Authority, Eng. Ibrahim Al-Omar, Group CEO, Bahri, Sultan Al Angari, Consul General of Saudi Arabia in Houston, Steven Blowers, Country Manager, Bahri Logistics (America)

MARCH 21, 2017—Bahri, the National Shipping Company of Saudi Arabia and a global leader in transportation and logistics, has opened its second North American office in Houston, Texas, further strengthening the position of Bahri Logistics (America), which has been operating out of Bahri’s U.S. headquarters in Baltimore since 1992,

Bahri (America) Houston office will be led by Cliff Kuhfeldt, an 18-year shipping industry veteran, who will be responsible for the U.S. Gulf and South Atlantic territory reporting to Steven Blowers, Country Manager, Bahri Logistics (America).

The new office, located in Granite Briarpark Green in Houston, was inaugurated by the Group’s Chief Executive Officer Eng. Ibrahim Al-Omar, in the presence of Sultan Al Angari, Consul General of Saudi Arabia in Houston, Ricky Kunz, Chief Commercial Officer, Port of Houston Authority, Wael Al-Sarhan, Vice President – Marketing and Communications, Bahri, Steven Blowers, Country Manager, Bahri Logistics (America), and other senior company executives and staff.

To mark the official inauguration of the Houston office on March 16, Bahri Logistics (America) organized a gala dinner for its valued customers and partners highlighting its commitment to the Port of Houston and its customers.

“The Port of Houston is the leading breakbulk port in the U.S. and is consistently top-ranked in terms of foreign waterborne tonnage, ” said Eng. Ibrahim Al-Omar, Group CEO, Bahri. “Moreover, Bahri is the leading direct RoCon liner service provider between the U.S. and the Middle East. Through this port, the company offers its customers integrated transportation solutions and door-to-door cargo services, which makes the U.S.-Middle East corridor one of the most important routes for Bahri. By enhancing our presence in Houston, we can further capitalize on our leadership and the ever-growing demand for transportation solutions, while providing unmatched customer service.”

Steven Blowers, Country Manager, Bahri Logistics (America), added, “We have been doing business with the Port of Houston for many years, and now, by investing and opening up a new office in Houston, we will be much closer to our customers, which will help us serve them better, further strengthen our relationships and build new ones. The opening of Bahri Logistics’ second U.S. office in Houston is another milestone achievement in 2017, as we also celebrate 25 years of operations in North America.”

“The project and breakbulk cargo markets remain one of the most important cargo segments for the Port of Houston and for Bahri Logistics. With an increased presence and resources in Houston, we are confident of further expanding our customer base and delivering value-added services to this important market segment,” he added added.

Bahri Logistics operates state-of-the-art multipurpose vessels on a regular liner schedule, all uniquely designed to carry project, RO/RO, breakbulk and container cargoes in a single voyage. Bahri Logistics is the leading direct full liner service provider from U.S. East and Gulf Coast ports and Canada to Jeddah, Dubai, Dammam and Mumbai, including way-port calls along the liner service route in the Mediterranean and Europe.

Bahri is recognized for its quality and reliability within the global shipping industry, and in September 2016 was awarded the U.S. Coast Guard’s (USCG) prestigious QUALSHIP 21 certification, given only to vessels that meet the most stringent quality and safety standards.

Valid for three years, the QUALSHIP 21 enrollment provides Bahri with a number of benefits translating to less delays and faster clearance and delivery of goods for clients,\Bahri has six business units that include Oil, Chemicals, Logistics, Dry Bulk, Ship Management, and Data.

Bahri is the largest owner and operator of Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs) in the world, and the largest owner of chemical tankers in the Middle East. Presently, the company owns and operates 84 vessels, including 37 VLCCs, 36 chemical/product tankers, six multipurpose vessels, and five dry-bulk carriers, with an additional nine VLCCs on order.