Ship chandlers & ship supply at Al 'Aqabah JOAQJ

Aqaba is Jordan’s dominant trade gateway, handling about 80% of the country’s exports and 65% of its imports, and a transit point for Saudi Arabia and Iraq.^[1]

—The Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority lists 12 terminals: general cargo and containers, oil and LPG, LNG, a phosphate port, a terminal for fertilisers, sulphur and ammonia, and a multipurpose port for grain, livestock and other goods.^[2]

—Aqaba Container Terminal (APM Terminals) passed 1 million TEU for the first time in 2025, with a monthly record of 96,060 TEU in December; a USD 13m ship-to-shore crane added in April 2025 handles 400 m vessels. More than 20 carriers call, including Maersk, MSC, CMA CGM, Hapag-Lloyd and COSCO.^[4,3]

—Aqaba Multipurpose Port: nine berths, 2 km of quay and 13.5 m draft, 11 million tonnes a year of general cargo, grain, livestock, Ro-Ro and project cargo (5.3 million tonnes and nearly 85,000 CEU in 2025). Under a 30-year concession signed on 5 February 2026, AD Ports Group (70%) and the Aqaba Development Corporation (30%) run it, with AD Ports expected to take over operations in August 2026.^[1]

Marine services across the port come from one company, Aqaba Port Marine Services (APMSCo): pilots, tugs and mooring teams for every ship movement, with 11 pilots, all master mariners.^[6]

—Pilotage is compulsory for vessels over 50 net registered tonnes in all port areas, including berthing and entry to the north anchorage; tugs are compulsory for all berthing. Ships in harbour needing a pilot call Aqaba VTS on VHF 12 one hour before they are ready to move.^[5]

—Anchorage is north-west of the Main Port, 0.8 nm off the shore, in 20–90 m of water, with room for up to six vessels at peak.^[5]

—Night movements are restricted: APMSCo has suspended night berthing and unberthing at the South New Port Basin berths 4–8 until a navigational-aids project is finished, and applies night berthing limits at the oil terminal, the Sheikh Sabah LNG terminal and the dangerous-cargo berths at JFI East.^[6]

—Every call comes through the Red Sea, so Aqaba moves with Bab el-Mandeb: Q1 2024 container imports fell 20% and exports 29% as lines rerouted via the Cape, and after the Houthis declared a blockade on Saudi Arabia in July 2026, Bab el-Mandeb transits fell about 24% before stabilising.^[8,9]

—The right counterparty for the terminal: ACT for container calls, the multipurpose port operator for general cargo, grain, livestock and Ro-Ro, and APMSCo for pilots and tugs everywhere.^[3,1,6]

—An arrival fitted to the night rules if you are bound for berths 4–8, the oil or LNG terminal or the dangerous-cargo berths, plus a pilot order through VTS on VHF 12.^[6,5]

—Licensed service providers: the Jordan Maritime Commission licenses the companies working in the maritime transport sector, exercises the Aqaba port department’s powers under the Maritime Trade Law, and inspects foreign ships as Port State.^[7]

—Provisions, stores and fresh water, alongside or at the anchorage: post a requirement and chandlers serving Aqaba answer with sealed bids — suppliers never see the vessel’s name until award. If you supply ships in Aqaba, be the first supplier in.