Manama:The Labour Fund (Tamkeen) has entered into an agreement with Svitzer Bahrain to support the latter's expansion plans in Bahrain. The collaboration, announced during Gateway Gulf 2026, aims to bolster the logistics and maritime transport sector, enhancing Bahrain's standing as a regional trade and logistics hub.
According to Bahrain News Agency, this agreement is part of Tamkeen's strategy to foster partnerships that advance high-value economic sectors. The initiative seeks to enhance maritime service capacity to accommodate increasing maritime traffic and regional trade while developing Bahraini talent and creating quality job opportunities.
Svitzer Bahrain, a unit of the global Svitzer Group, offers towage, pilotage, and mooring services at Khalifa Bin Salman Port, facilitating around 3,000 vessel movements annually. The project involves the addition of two new tugboats, "Awal" and "Al Manama," which are the most powerful in the company's Bahrain fleet. This expansion is expected to improve towage and marine pilotage services, increase the port's capacity for larger vessels, and enhance maritime operations' efficiency and safety.
Maha Abdulhameed Mofeez, Chief Executive of Tamkeen, emphasized the project's alignment with Tamkeen's priorities, highlighting its role in promoting growth in key economic sectors and reinforcing Bahrain's competitiveness as a trade and logistics hub. The partnership is also seen as a means to leverage international expertise and strengthen operational capabilities in maritime transport.
Captain Ahmad Hamdy, Country Manager of Svitzer Bahrain, expressed pride in the partnership with Tamkeen, noting the company's commitment to growing alongside Bahrain since 2006. Highlighting the addition of the powerful tugs, he detailed how Svitzer's operations in 2025 included over 7,600 towage jobs and nearly 4,700 pilotage operations.
This initiative aligns with Tamkeen's strategic priorities for 2026, focusing on impactful economic areas, linking skills with job opportunities, and fostering private-sector growth, all while enhancing Tamkeen's support mechanisms and governance to benefit businesses.