Thursday, March 28, 2024 | Ramadan 17, 1445 H
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EDITOR IN CHIEF- ABDULLAH BIN SALIM AL SHUEILI

National Day: Ports of Oman

The natural partner in economic growth
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The ports of the Sultanate of Oman handled an increase in cargo volume in the first half of this year.


The number of containers handled by ports saw an increase of two per cent at 2,58 million TEU compared to 2,53 million TEU during the same period in H1 2021.


According to the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology, the growth was attributed to a two-per cent increase in containers handled at Salalah Port.


The ports enjoyed a rise of 5 per cent in general, liquid, and dry bulk cargo, totalling 42,76 million tonnes compared to 40,61 million tonnes over the same period last year.


A look into major highlights of the ports of the Sultanate:


PORT SULTAN QABOOS has been the major commercial sea hub of the country since opening in 1974. In 2014, it rebranded itself as a major cruise destination in the Middle East.


The port is equipped with a modern passenger terminal, a duty-free shop, berthing and ancillary facilities needed for safe cruise operations.


Asyad has been managing the Port Sultan Qaboos since January 1, 2018.


Sohar Port and its adjacent Free Zone are managed by Sohar Industrial Port Company (SIPC). The Port terminals are operated by leading international companies: C. Steinweg Oman for general cargo handling, Oiltanking Terminals for liquid bulk handling, and Hutchison Port Sohar for container handling.


SOHAR PORT AND FREE ZONE have announced the allocation of around 6 million square meters for renewable energy projects, which will benefit from extensive studies on green hydrogen as an alternative fuel source.


At the end of the third quarter of this year, cargo throughput reached 21 million tonnes, with the port handling a total of about 2,225 ships.


SALALAH PORT users benefit from a container terminal with seven berths, a general cargo terminal with 12 berths, and a liquid jetty with two berths - with up to 18 metres of draft, it regularly accommodates the world's largest container ships.


Salalah hosts more than 2,500 vessel calls each year and is one of the fastest-growing port operations worldwide. Services include stevedoring, container maintenance and repair, tug services, bunkering, warehousing, and other port-related services.


Salalah Port is planning to attract very large container ships and raise its handling capabilities after the company's board of directors approved the conclusion of an agreement to lease 10 cranes that would allow the port to deal with this type of container ships, which can accommodate more than 14,500 containers.



THE PORT OF DUQM offers a wide range of services, such as the availability of MARPOL facilities, freshwater supply, fuel bunkering, ship-to-ship transfers at one of its multiple anchorage areas, and domestic waste collection and treatment.


The Port of Duqm, which has been in operation since 2012, already has extensive built-up expertise in handling break bulk, project cargo and dry bulk cargo.


Being the largest fishing port in the Sultanate of Oman, the port is 10 metres deep, consisting of 2 breakwaters that are 3.3 km long, a 1.3-km fixed berth, and six other floating berths.


PORT OF KHASAB is positioned at the northern end of Oman, in the Musandam Governorate, facing the Strait of Hormuz. The port offers immediate access to the sea route, which is navigated by hundreds of ships a day, and proximity to the markets of Iran, Iraq, Pakistan and India.


The Port of Khasab serves as an essential resource for cruise vessels, ferry operations and Iranian freight and cargo.


THE SHINAS PORT serves local traders who have benefitted from expanding import and export capacity covering raw materials, manufactured goods and building materials. Port Shinas is also increasingly positioning itself as a hub for the Sultanate's extensive ferry network.


SUWAIQ PORT is ideal for global logistics customers seeking rapid access to Oman and the wider region. Asyad has embarked on a major expansion of its berthing capacity. With nearly 300 metres of berthing capacity, Suwaiq Port can accommodate any ship with a draft of -5 metres or less.


MoTCIT has invited tenders for the development, management, and operation of the Dhalkout Port in the Governorate of Dhofar, apart from ports such as Khasab, Shinas, Shaleem, Shanna, Masirah, Manji and Sadah.


MoTCIT is also conducting a study for the establishment of yacht marinas and construction at Port of Shinas.


THE DIBBA PORT is part of the government's plan to diversify the economy and work to develop fishing ports in the Sultanate to be an attractive environment for investments. The area of the port following completion of the expansion in December 2023 will increase from 97,000 sqm to 779,000 sqm. The expansion will provide land plots that meet the needs of local and foreign investor.


@vinot_nair


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