Duqm container terminal expected to start operation by early 2020

Muscat: A new container terminal at the Duqm port is expected to become operational by early 2020, according to a top-level official of the port.
The container handling capacity of the terminal will be eventually ramped up to 3.5 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) per annum, from an initial capacity of 200,000 TEUs, according to Reggy Vermeulen, chief executive officer of the Port of Duqm.
He said the mandate of the port is to operate the container terminal itself. “Now we are assessing the exact situation in the market. However, for the time being, the Port of Duqm will operate the terminal with an open mind (for handing it over to a third party). Our priority is to have a container terminal up and running,” explained the port chief.
Once the port starts full-fledged operation some time in 2019-2020, it will have a 2.2-kilometrelong commercial berth, a 2.2-kilometre long container berth, one kilometrelong government berth and a break bulk berth for miscellaneous cargoes.
The port has started operations for importing project cargoes and exporting dolomites, after a soft opening a couple of years ago. In the first phase, the port will handle general cargoes, containerised cargoes and bulk cargo.
Vermeulen also said the trend of containerised exports/imports is growing and there is a requirement for containerised shipping of operational cargo (chemicals and spare parts for equipment) for the oil and gas sector within the region.
Referring to the growth in cargo volumes at the port, Vermeulen said the port has achieved an exponential growth in volumes last year. “The port has achieved a three-fold growth in volumes in 2016, over the previous year. We have exported 200,000 tonnesof dolomites last year. The plan is to continue that growth. We would like to reinforce our position in the mineral sector,” said Vermeulen. The main export markets are India and Qatar.
“We are targeting at least half-a-million tonnes of mineral exports from the port this year.”
Vermeulen also said there is a potential for exporting limestone as well from the port due to the availability of the mineral.
Vermeulen noted that most of the packages for completing Duqm port have already been awarded. These contracts include gates, superstructure, remaining work at terminals, buildings for the port and dredging works. “The contracting firms are already working on the ground. This shows that now we have a firm date, the end of 2019, for completing the entire work for full-fledged operation (phase one) of the port,” noted Vermeulen.