The construction
of Mina Sultan Qaboos was a development priority for the Sultanate
of Oman and completed in 1974 with a capacity to handle 2
million tonnes annually. Since then many improvements have
been made including dredging the harbour entrance to a depth
of 13 metres. The spoil from this and other operations has
been used for land reclamation in Shutaifi Bay where a 150,000
m2 container storage area has been created. Two new cranes
were ordered for delivery in 1998 at a cost of over RO80,000
each. The cranes are the most modern of their kind and will
cut container handling time by 40%. In addition, studies carried
out by the Ministry have shown that a new port is needed to
supplement Mina Sultan Qaboos in the next decade. Sohar has
been chosen as the site for a number of reasons, the most
important being the development of major industrial projects
in the area, such as the aluminium smelter and petrochemicals
plant. There are also plans to extend the port of Khasab in
Musandam, which for the time being consists of a floating
jetty and refuelling facility.
Port Salalah
is the new container terminal built in a
record time of 14 months. The first vessel docked
on 1st November 1998 and by the official opening ceremony,
a month later, 25 ships had been handled. It was built
on the former harbour of Raysut, the port which served
Salalah and the Governorate of Dhofar.
However being strategically placed as
it is close to the direct shipping lanes between Europe and
the Far East, it is in a position which has easy access, not
only to the Gulf, but also to the Red Sea, Indian Ocean and
East Coast of Africa, it will provide a major boost to Oman's
economy. With the expansion of the Raysut Industrial Estate
and the prospect of increased trade with Yemen, it was decided
to develop the existing harbour as a container port and free
trade zone at a cost of US $130 million. Port Sohar In June 1998,
an agreement was signed with the Japanese Export & Import
Bank for a loan of RO96 million to finance the construction
of Oman's third port at Sohar. Construction of the breakwater,
which will have a total length of 6 km, began in 1999. The
northern breakwater has a length of 3.6 km and the southern
arm of the project 2.4 km. Tenders have been let for dredging
the harbour and the civil works for the port. The project
will take about three years to complete. In the first phase
two liquid cargo berths, two bulk berths for the aluminium
smelter, two cargo berths, and a container berth will be completed.
An additonal berth will be built for Government use.
The harbour will have a depth of 17 m, which
is deep enough for the fifth generation of container vessels
coming into service. There is provision for the construction
of a further 14 to 15 berths, should these be required,
and a special site has been set aside for the construction
of a dry dock.
The port is situated north of the
town in the area of Marsa Majees (the jetty for the copper
smelter imports/exports) and close to the Sohar industrial
estate and the area set aside for the major industrial projects
planned for Sohar.
Port Qalhat
near Sur, once an historic mediaeval port, has given its name
to the Oman LNG terminal from where the first shipment of
natural gas was exported in April 2000. In March the Oman
Terminal Towage Company launched three new tugs, named Musandam,
Qalhat and Quriyat and a service vessel for the new port.
