Muscat: Duqm Port under construction in Al Wusta (Central Region) is a strategic project being implemented by Oman's government to revive economic and industrial activities not only locally but also regionally.
The port is characterised by its strategic location overlooking the Arabian Sea and not far from the international shipping lanes that link East and West and the regional shipping lanes that link the GCC countries and the Indian Ocean rim countries with international shipping lanes.
In addition, the port will serve the shipping lanes between Oman's ports, support cargo movement, industrial and tourism activities as it lies almost midway between Muscat's Port Sultan Qaboos and the Port of Salalah.
The availability of a dry dock adds to the significance of the port as it will be capable of handling repair and maintenance of giant vessels of up to 600,000 tonnes.
Qasim Bin Ahmad Al Shizawi, Director-General of Ports at the Ministry of Transport and Communications, told Oman News Agency (ONA) that the marine works at the port have been awarded to a consortium comprising Oman Consolidating Contractors, Jan De Noel of Belgium and Steva of Turkey.
"The drydock operations will be undertaken by Daewoo Ship Building and Marine Engineering of South Korea in conjunction with Galfar Engineering and Contracting Company. The superstructure works will be undertaken by some local and international firms," Al Shizawi added.
He hopes that the port operations will start by the second half of 2012, while the drydock is expected to be completed in December 2010.
The Duqm Port project will add value to the national economy and will contribute to diversifying sources of income by attracting major investments and industries.
This will result in the setting up of industrial areas and special economic areas and will also lead to developing different sectors, logistic activities and other works, thus driving the national economy to achieve its goals as outlined by the government's economic strategy.
Agreement
The government recently signed a shareholder agreement with Belgium's Port of Antwerp Authority for the management and operation of the port.
Under the agreement, a closed joint stock company will be established between the Government of the Sultanate of Oman and the Port of Antwerp Authority for the operation and management of the port.
