Asyad Ports launches container terminal operations in Duqm

Duqm: Asyad Group announced the start of management and operation of Asyad Container Terminal – Duqm, through its operational arm Asyad Ports, as part of the group’s expansion plans to provide integrated logistical solutions, and extrapolate the growth of global commercial traffic and handling activities and fulfill the requirements of major container shipping lines companies in the world, and strengthening the position of the Port of Duqm and the Special Economic Zone at Duqm as a global destination for container handling and integrated logistics services.

This step comes within the framework of the group’s strategy to raise the competitiveness of ASYAD Ports’ services and activities as it is the national operator for managing and operating ports, stations and commercial docks, and possesses experience, administrative capabilities and national competencies in this field.

Assigning this project to ASYAD Ports also reflects the confidence of partners and customers in the efficiency of its services and expertise, as ASYAD Ports has proven, since its establishment, its competence in managing and operating local ports and commercial docks and has achieved financial profits since the first year of its operation. The station includes four bridge cranes equipped with remote control systems, and each crane can handle two containers together with a load of up to 65 tons, in addition to 12 yard cranes with a capacity of up to 51 tons.

The cranes are equipped with fifth generation technologies in addition to a fiber optic data transmission system to be controlled remotely by the crane operator, and are equipped with smart driving systems, a yard monitoring system and an automatic landing system, with their capabilities to reach 71 meters in front and 18 meters in rear reach, which contributes to Increasing productivity and improving handling operations. The length of the terminal, which includes three berths, is more than 1,000 metres, and can accommodate 3 ships at the same time, and has a storage capacity of 26,000 TEUs and more than 600 refrigerated containers. During the trial operation phase, the station witnessed the transshipment of the cargo of two giant ships transporting containers from different shipping lines coming from European and Asian markets, where the docking process was ensured smoothly, and the containers were handled with high efficiency, which confirms the ability and readiness of the station to receive ships of various sizes and types. And meet the growing demand for import and export business to various local, regional and global markets.

The operation of the container terminal comes within the efforts of the Special Economic Zone at Duqm to enhance the competitiveness of the region and the integration of the logistical solutions it provides, in addition to keeping pace with the continuous growth in the commercial and economic sectors, increasing maritime and commercial traffic and attracting foreign investments to the region, which enhances the commercial activities of local companies and small and medium enterprises operating. In logistics sectors such as land transportation, warehousing, and works related to standard containers.

Eng. Ahmed bin Ali Akaak, in charge of managing the work of the CEO of the Special Economic Zone at Duqm, stressed the importance of the project in supporting the diversification of the national economy and creating investment opportunities by linking the Economic Zone at Duqm to global shipping lines, taking advantage of its strategic location at the crossroads of global shipping lanes and the possibility of direct access to the largest international markets.

He also stressed the importance of the Port of Duqm as it constitutes an important tributary to the economic sector and a qualitative leap in improving the competitiveness of the Sultanate of Oman and an important addition to integration with various Omani ports, as it is planned to be a logistical center serving international shipping lines between Asia and Europe.

Dr. Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Abri, CEO of ASYAD Ports, said that the operation of ASYAD Container Terminal in Duqm is an important step in the growth and expansion of ASYAD Ports’ services portfolio and its commercial operations. It also reflects the efficiency of the solutions provided by the company, as ASYAD Ports has proven over the past two years its worth in Managing and operating a number of berths in the Port of Duqm, including general cargo berths, bulk cargo, and ro-ro vessels. He stressed that the inauguration of this station was a translation of the efforts of the Duqm Economic Zone in equipping the Port of Duqm with the best infrastructure in the world, as the depth of the port reaches 18 meters and it can receive container ships of various sizes to provide unloading and loading services, re-shipping, filling and unloading containers and other services of value. added.

Regarding the efforts of the Asyad Group in achieving food security, the CEO of Asyad Ports explained that the Asyad Container Terminal will contribute to supporting the needs of the fisheries industry in the Sultanate of Oman by providing cold chain solutions enhanced with the latest technologies, and designed to deal with all exports and imports of fish, marine products and other materials.

The Port of Duqm played a major role in the success of the trial operation of the container terminal at the port, and its contribution in providing the necessary technical and logistical support during the last period, especially during container handling and re-shipping operations, to ensure the smooth flow of work within the time schedule set for it and in accordance with the highest standards of occupational health and safety.