Ship chandlers & ship supply at Ras al Khaimah AERKT

Saqr Port is the largest of the ports run by RAK Ports (managed by Saqr Port Authority) on the Gulf coast of Ras Al Khaimah, close to the Strait of Hormuz. RAK Ports states a handling capacity of over 100 million tonnes a year, and the port sits beside the RAK Maritime City free zone.^[1,3]

—Inner Harbour: twelve berths (Nos 1–12, 160–225 m each) with ruling depths of 11.8–12.2 m and an approach channel ruling depth of 12.5 m; ships up to 260 m LOA × 45 m beam are normally accepted, larger ones case by case. Berths 2–3 are the container berths (Hutchison Ports), berth 4 has Ro-Ro ramps, berth 5 loads aggregate by conveyor, and berths 6 and 11 carry tanker pipelines.^[2]

—Deep-Water Bulk Terminal beside the lee breakwater: three berths (Nos 14–16, 685 m of quay) at 18.0 m ruling depth, a turning basin of 18.2 m and an access channel of 18–25 m; ships up to 295 m LOA without beam restriction, larger on application. RAK Ports calls it the Gulf’s largest bulk terminal, built for Cape-size vessels.^[2]

—Dynamic Under Keel Clearance (DUKC) is in use for both the Inner Harbour and the Deep-Water Bulk Terminal, letting vessels arrive or sail deeper; masters apply to use it.^[2]

Saqr Port handles about 85 million tonnes a year, mainly bulk exports of aggregates, limestone, cement and clinker from the emirate’s rock quarries (Breakbulk, May 2026). RAK Ports describes the port as adjacent to the largest limestone quarry in the world and as supplying construction materials to projects across the UAE, the GCC and beyond.^[4,2,1]

—Inbound bulk runs the other way: coal, oil, gypsum, clay and other raw materials for local factories.^[2]

—Saqr 2.0, a USD 1 billion expansion, will add six to ten deep-water berths to the 47 now shared by Saqr Port and RAK Maritime City and lift capacity to about 150 million tonnes a year; phase 1 slipped to late 2028 (mainly customer-requested design changes) and phase 2 targets 2031. RAK Ports said the 2026 Gulf tensions had little impact on the build beyond disrupting dredgers entering the Gulf.^[4]

—The anchorage lies NW of the entrance in four zones by size and purpose: Zone I under 100 m LOA, barges and small craft; Zone II 100–200 m; Zone III over 200 m; Zone IV for Cape-size vessels, STS, float-off and bunkering operations.^[3]

—Berthing Request and Pre-Arrival forms to Port Control at least 48 hours before ETA, sent by the vessel’s agent; ETA at the pilot station updated 4 hours before arrival. Saqr Port Control works VHF 16 (calling) and 14 (working).^[3,2]

—Pilotage is compulsory and runs 24/7, boarding near the Fairway Buoy; immigration inward clearance is needed before cargo work starts and outward clearance before sailing.^[3]

—Bunkers and sludge disposal through approved suppliers. At anchorage, bunkering needs the Harbour Master’s express approval and is restricted to gasoil only.^[3]

—Fresh water by the port’s road tanker, requested through the agent; garbage skips are available; crew changes are possible through the agent, with the NOC tied to the vessel’s berthing schedule.^[3]

—Provisions and stores come from approved ship chandlers — and a short bulk turnaround leaves little slack for a late order. Post a requirement before arrival and chandlers serving Ras Al Khaimah answer with sealed bids; suppliers never see the vessel’s name until award. If you supply ships at Saqr Port, be the first supplier in.^[3]