THE Oman International Container Terminal (OICT), near the Strait of Hormuz, 200 kilometres from Muscat and 160 kilometres from Dubai, is fast-tracking development of Terminal C, said Hutchison Port Holdings (HPH) managing director Eric Ip.
Speaking at GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) Supply Chain & Logistics Conference 2015 in Sohar, Mr Ip said plans for Terminal D and expansion of hinterland connections all had the aim of increasing OICT's annual capacity by four times to six million TEU.
The construction of Terminal D will synchronise with the overall development plan of Sohar Port and may start as early as 2018-19.
Transport Minister Ahmed Mohammed Al Futaisi said: "Terminal productivity at Sohar for containers and general cargo now exceeds the previous performance that was achieved by Mena Sultan Qaboos."
OICT is a joint-venture between Hong Kong's HPH, the Government of the Sultanate of Oman, Steinweg of the Netherlands and a number of other well-established Omani investors.
Said HPH's Mr Ip: "OICT is the gateway to Oman and HPH has achieved its mission to consolidate Muscat and Sohar cargo and to develop Sohar Port into a modern and efficient gateway port for the North Batinah region and the Sohar Freezone."
He said the Hong Kong terminal operations giant was committed to Sohar Port and to the Sultanate of Oman.
"We will continue the development of facilities at the port to capture the growing trade activities in the Middle East and the potential to serve the latest class of 20,000 TEU mega-vessels. We are building for the future," Mr Ip said.
HPH estimates to make a total investment of US$303 million by 2019, including US$183.5 million that is already invested in OICT as of the end of 2014.
OICT has also taken advantage of the world-class road and rail network that is being established in the sultanate to cement its position as a key gateway for origin/destination cargo in GCC member states.
OICT is a modern container-handling facility with capabilities of accommodating the latest generation of mega-vessels.
OICT is a member of the HPH Group. HPH, a subsidiary of Hong Kong's multinational conglomerate Hutchison Whampoa Limited, is the world's leading port investor, developer and operator.
The HPH network of port operations comprises 319 berths in 52 ports, spanning 26 countries throughout Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe, the Americas and Australasia.
Over the years, HPH has expanded internationally into other logistics and transport related businesses. These include cruise ship terminals, airport operations, distribution centres, rail services, and ship repair facilities.
PORTS
29 April 2015 - 21:10
Hutchison accelerates development of Sohar Port's Terminal C in Oman
THE Oman International Container Terminal (OICT), near the Strait of Hormuz, 200 kilometres from Muscat and 160 kilometres from Dubai, is fast-tracking development of Terminal C, said Hutchison Port Holdings (HPH) managing director Eric Ip.
PORTS
29 April 2015 - 21:10
Hutchison accelerates development of Sohar Port's Terminal C in Oman
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