Global Arab Network | Duqm Port - Major shift in economic development in Oman

Translate this article to your language:

GANPublications

e-Publications

Add Site to Favorites

Add Page to Favorites

Make Homepage

Share This Page

RSS Feed

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| |

Duqm Port - Major shift in economic development in Oman

Global Arab Network - - Amal Hasson

Saturday, 23 April 2011 00:29

Duqm_Port_-_Major_shift_in_economic_development_in_Oman

Global Arab Network - The Al Wusta Region boasts two major development projects that promote trade and industry in the Sultanate in general and the region in particular namely Duqm Port and Dry Dock.

The two projects aimed to boost diversification and provide job opportunities for Omani citizens. The port initially a small marina for exporting rocks and fish is set to become a major commercial port, in the form of a Dry Dock, a major complex to which a number of industrial and commercial projects will be linked.

Said bin Hamdoon al Harthy, (pictured) Under-Secretary of the Transport and Communications Ministry for Ports and Marine Affairs, said the total approved investments for the two projects as of the end of February 2011 amounted to RO 1.255 billion. The total cost is expected to reach RO 1.7 billion.

In a statement to Oman News Agency (ONA), he added that Duqm Port is one of the major ports in the region and has a strategic importance, being near to the international shipping lines. The port is expected to attract a significant part of the regional and international trade movement.

It will also support the trade and tourism activity of the Omani ports as it is midway between Sultan Qaboos Port in Muscat and Salalah Port in Dhofar Governorate. It is also an important part of the government plan to set up a comprehensive city in the Wilayat of Duqm in the Al Wusta Region and part of the strategy to develop the regions in the different parts of the Sultanate.

He pointed out that there are strategic visions to set up industrial city and other projects in the region therefore the design of the port has been amended to meet the aims of the new vision.

In 2007, the EPC contract was awarded to the consortium of Consolidated Contractors Company (CCC), Jan De Nul and Swzai Turkes Feyzi Akkaya (STFA).

The scope of work at phase one included the construction of two breakwaters, deepening the approach channel, reclamation for the port quay walls, in addition to the infrastructure 1303481563596511000 of the port that include the structures, roads, yards, and service utilities.

The gross length of the quay is more than 3,000 metres that include 2,250 metres with 18 metres deep and 350 wide for the commercial purposes. This allows 8 vessels to embark at one time. The capacity of the port will be more than 3.5 million containers a year. The port may be expanded to handle 20 million containers a year after completing the future expansion.

The first stage also includes quays for the governmental services (980 metres long and 10 metres deep) for the Royal Yachts, Royal Navy of Oman, Coast Guard, Special Forces and Ferry Boats, in addition to a storage area.

In 2008, the government decided to increase the scope of the construction works for the port to increase the capacity of the port to meet the need of the commercial and industrial activity and contribute to the marine transportation sector, especially major industrial ports are proposed parallel to the port. Based on this, the scope of work has been expanded to include, upon completion of the final stage, more than 42 quays for the different activities (18 metre deep) to receive the current and next generation vessels.

Qasim bin Ahmed al Shizawi, Director-General of the Ports at the Transport and Communications Ministry, said that the works at the Duqm Port project is moving steadily as per the timetable.

In a statement to ONA, he added that 55 million cubic metres were dredged inside the port and at the approach channel; out of the 69 million cubic metres which means that the progress rate is about 80 per cent. 12.7 million Cubic metres were filled out of 13.3 million cubic metres, which means that the progress rate is 97 per cent and ahead of the schedule. He pointed out that the number of workers at the port is 1,886 including 375 Omanis, or 20 per cent of the manpower.

He pointed out that work is under way to prepare the studies, designs and documents to float and award the works for the infrastructure. The tenders will be floated in 10 packages.

It should be noted that the tender for the main and sub roads for Duqm Port was floated in April 2010.

Shizawi affirmed that the completed works till date are ahead of the schedule, as the progress rate is 83 per cent. The construction of the port is expected to be completed in mid 2012. He pointed out also that after the completion of the marine work and the infrastructure, the port will be managed and operated by a closed joint stock company that will be incorporated between the government and Antwerp Port of Belgium under the name A’Duqm Port Company to benefit from Antwerp Port Authority in the field of port management and operation.

The second project, the Dry Dock, will be set up on 1.2 million square metres. The project is comprehensive and will provide commercial vessel repair services. The graving docks are large enough to accommodate merchant ships of all sizes, including Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs), Ultra Large Crude Carriers (ULCCs), fourth and fifth generation container ships, and other vessels of a maximum capacity of 600,000 tonnes. It will also provide its services for oil and gas tankers, commercial vessels, cruise ships, container vessels, equipment vessels and other marine pieces.

The Dry Dock project includes 2,800 metre-long quay and reclamation of 453,000 square metres. It features a pair of graving docks each of a world-scale 410-metre long, 95 and 80 metres wide, 10 metres deep and 14 metres high.

It also includes marine works that include yards, workshops and roads facilities for sanitation, restaurants and offices for management, labour accommodation and guest house in addition to the other electro-mechanical facilities.

A coalition of Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering (DSME) of South Korea and Galfar of Oman started implementing the infrastructure works for the project in June 2008. It is expected to be completed in the second quarter this year.

Al Shizawi affirmed that all the civil infrastructure works and the additional works for the road pavement, yards and rain water discharge canals outside the fence are 100 per cent completed.

The project's development which entails the implementation of 17 major superstructure projects, related to the supply, installation and commissioning of equipment and plants for Dry Dock operations has been awarded to local and international companies from different countries.

He also pointed out that the infrastructure works for the Dry Dock has been completed in full. 88 per cent of the works which have been awarded as per variation orders were also completed. 97 per cent of the supra structure works for the dock were also completed.

He pointed out that as per the initial plan of Oman Dry Dock Company, the Dry Dock project will avail 1,500 jobs, which may be increased to more than 3,000 jobs in the future, once the extension of the project is proved to be feasible.

Al Shizawi added that Oman Dry Dock company, a 100 per cent state owned company will manage and operate the port after completion in co-operation with Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering (DSME) in a bid to transfer the experience and technologies of the Korean side in the field of shipbuilding and repair to the Sultanate. (ONA)

Global Arab Network

< Prev		Next >

Last Updated on Saturday, 23 April 2011 00:31

Add comment

The opinions of the authors in articles published are theirs alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of Global Arab Network
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Published comments are the opinions of private individuals and do not reflect the views of Global Arab Network