Sohar Port News

An operation was underway on Monday to salvage the liquefied petroleum gas tanker MV Falcon, which remains on fire and adrift in the Gulf of Aden following an October 18 explosion on board, maritime security sources said.The Cameroon-flagged vessel was fully laden when the explosion occurred at 0700 GMT as it was sailing off Yemen, forcing most of its 26 crew members to abandon the vessel.The cause of the blast is unclear, but early indications suggest it was an accident related to its cargo…

The LPG-laden tanker MV Falcon was on fire and adrift on Saturday off the coast of Yemen, after it reported an explosion that forced members of its crew to abandon the vessel, the European Union's naval force Aspides said in a statement.The cause of the explosion was unclear but most likely an accident, according to initial indications, Aspides said. It added that at least 15% of the Cameroon-flagged vessel was on fire.Due to the risk of further explosions, since the tanker was fully loaded with liquefied petroleum gas…

Iran has sent small shipments of crude oil to new destinations such as Bangladesh and Oman, according to shipping sources and data, the latest sign of Tehran pushing to sustain output at close to its highest in five years.Oil sales are Iran's major revenue source and the country has been looking for ways to sidestep U.S. sanctions on its crude exports that former president Donald Trump re-imposed in 2018 over Tehran's nuclear program.Iran, which is exempt from output quotas set by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)…

The first liquefied natural gas (LNG) tanker since January is sailing through the Red Sea, just days after Yemen-based Houthi militants sank their second vessel in attacks begun last November.The vessel, Asya Energy, passed Yemen, travelling through the Bab al-Mandab Strait on Tuesday, shiptracking data from LSEG and Kpler showed, the same week that the second ship believed to have been hit by the militants sank."Asya Energy is the first LNG tanker to sail through the Strait since January…

Oman's state-owned Asyad is considering buying ports and terminals abroad and could divest assets outside its core logistics business, such as a college and project management operation, its chief executive said on Thursday.The plans by the company, which is owned by the Oman Investment Authority, align with the small oil producing Gulf state's broader strategy to reduce reliance on crude revenues and expand its non-oil industries.Chief Executive Abdulrahman Salim Al Hatmi told…

Turkish shipbuilder Sanmar Shipyards said it will soon deliver the fifth and final vessel in a series of new tug builds for operator Svitzer at Oman's Port of Sohar.The newest tug Svitzer Saham is the third 80t bollard pull RAstar 2900SX variant, Sanmar’s Bigacay class, joining sister vessels Svitzer Sohar and Svitzer Shinas, alongside two other earlier deliveries in 2020 of the 50t bollard pull variant of the RAmparts 2200 (named Svitzer Liwa and Svitzer Barka), Sanmar’s Sirapinar…

Turkish tug building specialist Sanmar Shipyards followed up on recent deliveries of the two Sirapinar class ASD tugs to Oman's Port of Sohar with the delivery of the first of a three part order of the larger and more powerful Bigacay class ASD tugs. The arrival of this tug to the Port of Sohar, alongside its two sisters due shortly, will conclude the fleet development aims of the operator Svitzer and Port of Sohar; agreed as part of the 15 year renewal of the former's marine services contract, awarded in early 2019.

A rare ethanol shipment of U.S. origin is expected to arrive in China this month, according to three industry sources and shipping data, probably the first such cargo since the two countries struck an initial trade deal in January.The market has been watching closely for signs of renewed trade in biofuel after China waived some additional tariffs on 696 American products, ethanol among them, to support purchases of U.S. farm goods, after the signing of the Phase 1 trade deal.Oil tanker SC Chongqing, which loaded a cargo of about 9,000 tonnes at Oman's Sohar port in April, is expected to arrive at Nanjing in eastern Jiangsu province on Friday…

On February 12 Albwardy Damen entered into an agreement with SOHAR for the opening of a workshop. For the signing, which took place at SOHAR Port and Freezone Head Office in Oman, SOHAR was represented by Mark Geilenkirchen, CEO of SOHAR Port and Albwardy Damen was represented by Ibrahim Mohamed Al Shidi. The agreement will see the installation of a 40-foot workshop container at a service jetty in the Port, in collaboration with Albwardy Damen’s Omani partner, Sawahel Sohar Al Almya…

The deep-sea port and adjacent free zone in the Middle East, SOHAR Port and Freezone recently entered into a Service Level Agreement (SLA) with Sohar University and Qualies (the Organization for Quality and Innovation Strategies).The collaboration will see a tree planting initiative that will further the principle of ecological protection and management, alongside ensuring all the operations of SOHAR are in compliance with Oman’s sustainability objectives, said a press release.The signing ceremony took place on July 17 at the Sohar University, with Suwaid Al Shemaisi, Executive Manager of Corporate Affairs at SOHAR representing the Port and Freezone.

Albwardy Damen, a joint venture providing shipbuilding and ship repair services to the marine and oil and gas related industries in the Middle East, has announced that it has launched a full range of afloat, workshop, and diving services at SOHAR Port and Freezone.The new SOHAR operations represents the fourth location of operations in the Middle East, adding to Albwardy Damen’s Afloat Repairs Division comprehensive workshop facilities in Dubai, Sharjah, and Fujairah.Willem Moelker…

French energy group Total said it had signed a memorandum of understanding with the government of Oman to develop natural gas resources in the country."Total and Shell as operator will develop several natural gas discoveries located in the Greater Barik area on onshore Block 6 with respective shares of 25 percent and 75 percent, as per the agreement between both companies and before possible State back-in, with the objective of an initial gas production of around 500 MMcfd and a potential to reach 1 bcf/d at a later stage," Total said in a press release on Sunday."Total will use its equity gas entitlement as feedstock to develop in Oman a regional hub for liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering service to supply LNG as a fuel to marine vessels.

Total has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Oman to develop natural gas resources in Oman. This MoU covers both upstream and downstream businesses. Total and Shell as operator will develop several natural gas discoveries located in the Greater Barik area on onshore Block 6 with respective shares of 25% and 75%, as per the agreement between both companies and before possible State back-in, with the objective of an initial gas production of around 500 MMcfd and a potential to reach 1 bcf/d at a later stage. Total will use its equity gas entitlement as feedstock to develop in Oman a regional hub for Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) bunkering service to supply LNG as a fuel to marine vessels.

SOHAR Port and Freezone have signed an agreement with Dredging International NV – Earth Moving Worldwide LTD (DINV-EMW JV) for the development of Phase 1 of the SOHAR Port South Construction Package I. Totalling an investment of USD 24mn (approx. OMR 9.24mn), the agreement will see the development of the first 50 hectares of useable land within the new port expansion; which is expected to be fully completed by Q4 2018. The agreement was signed on April 18 at a ceremony held at SOHAR Port and Freezone head office in Sohar. Signing the agreement on behalf of SOHAR was the CEO, Mark Geilenkirchen, and DCEO- CEO SOHAR Freezone, Jamal Aziz; while DINV-EMW JV were represented by Alberto Mino, Area Manager of Dredging International NV, and Yves Aertssen, Director of the EMW group.

The Ocean Alliance has launched its new Day Two Product with an estimated 3.6 million TEU carrying capacity provided by approximately 340 containerships deployed on 41 services. The new offering will commence in April 2018. Alliance partners CMA CGM, COSCO, Evergreen and OOCL will offer 20 Transpacific services, six Asia-Europe services, four Asia-Mediterranean services, four Transatlantic services, five Asia-Middle East services and two Asia-Red Sea services. “Ocean Alliance has been a fantastic success from a customer perspective since its launch last spring and we are very enthusiastic to announce our Day Two Product,” said Olivier Nivoix, Senior Vice President Ocean Alliance Lines.

SOHAR has released new figures showing a solid first-half of 2017, as both the Port and Freezone continue to play a crucial role in the diversification and globalisation of Oman’s economy. Despite on-going issues in the maritime industry and the continued lull in global oil prices, container volumes in Q2 of 2017 grew by 11% from the same quarter last year, as SOHAR emerges as one of the region’s prime logistical hubs. Container throughput at the Hutchison-managed terminal has grown threefold over the past five years, in line with significant investments to increase efficiency to the highest international standards. The new Terminal C features remote-controlled quayside cranes…

As the container terminal operator at Sohar Port in Oman, Hutchison Ports is taking its next bold step towards modernisation and full automation, with the launch of its new Auto Gate system at Terminal C. The Terminal already features remote-controlled quayside cranes capable of handling next generation 20,000 TEU vessels. “Auto Gate promises to make container shipments at Hutchison Ports SOHAR even faster and more secure, strengthening the Port’s already excellent reputation as the new Gateway to the Gulf,” said Albert Pang, CEO of Hutchison Ports SOHAR. The Auto Gate system utilises a combination of smart technologies, allowing truck drivers to pass through the container terminal gates with no paper documentation and no delays.

Port of Rotterdam signs a ‘memorandum of understanding’ (MoU) with the State Government of Ceará with the purpose to jointly study a potential cooperation. This may lead to the joint venture Industrial Port Complex of Pecém. The MoU is consistent with the Port of Rotterdam Authority’s foreign policy which is focused on creating opportunities in ports abroad that have perspective for growth. Port of Rotterdam has a successful joint venture with the Sultanate of Oman for the management and development of SOHAR Port & Freezone. Additionally PoR has two Joint Ventures for the development of Porto Central, Brazil and Kuala Tanjung, Indonesia. Further, it is active in multiple ports as an advisor. The Industrial Port Complex of Pecém is close to Fortaleza.

Members of the OCEAN ALLIANCE, COSCO Container Lines, CMA CGM, Evergreen Line and Orient Overseas Container Line,  signed a document entitled the Day One Product, which sets out the proposed OCEAN ALLIANCE’s network, including port rotation for each service loop. The Day One network intends to deploy around 350 container vessels with an estimated total carrying capacity of 3.5 million TEUs to provide one of the most comprehensive service coverage in the market on the following trade lanes. The vessel deployment details for each service loop, will be released around end of this November. 20 Transpacific services (estimated 160 port pairs, with 13 Asia - West Coast North America services, 7 Asia - East Coast North America and U.S.

Oman International Container Terminal (OICT) received the first call of the Mediterranean Shipping Co (MSC), the world’s second largest container shipper with over 2.7m twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) per year, Lana vessel at the Port of Sohar. Officials from Sohar Port and Freezone, as well as executives from Oman International Container Terminal (OICT), part of Hong Kong’s Hutchison Group, were quayside to greet MSC Lana. This latest addition highlights once again that Sohar is establishing itself as the preferred gateway to the Gulf for many major international operators, the port and freezone said in a statement. MSC Lana is one of the older vessels in MSC’s fleet.

Oman's top port Salalah has signed trade agreements with key Iranian terminals in the latest efforts by the Gulf country to boost shipping ties with Tehran following the lifting of international sanctions. Measures against Iran were lifted in January as part of a nuclear deal with world powers, ending years of isolation which saw the international shipping sector cut ties and disrupt supplies to import-dependent Iran. The United Arab Emirates previously enjoyed greater shipping activity with Iran but ports in Oman are looking at expanding ties. Salalah, located near the Gulf of Aden, said on Monday it had signed a memorandum of understanding with Iran's biggest cargo port Bandar Abbas and with Chabahar port…

Oman aims to expand shipping and trade links with Iran and get ahead of rivals after the lifting of international sanctions on Tehran, leading port officials involved say. Measures were lifted last month as part of a nuclear deal with world powers, ending years of isolation which saw the international shipping sector cut ties and disrupt supplies to import-dependent Iran. The United Arab Emirates previously enjoyed greater shipping activity with Iran but Oman's nearby Sohar port is looking at expanding ties. Oman could also benefit from a spat between rivals Saudi Arabia and Iran which saw Riyadh cut ties last month and others like the UAE to downgrade relations. Annual UAE-Iran container trade pre-sanctions was estimated at 1.5 million TEUs (20-foot equivalent units).

Sohar Port and Freezone has added South Korea’s container line Hanjin Shipping to its list of global shipping lines offering direct links to this Omani deepsea port. Hanjin started its container service to Sohar from Far East, which is a significant addition in terms of direct connectivity for Sohar. The service called ‘Fareast Middle East Express (FMX)’ will be operated with seven vessels in the capacity range of 6,500 TEUS to 8,600 TEUS. The new route will help boost cargo carried in and out of Port Sohar. Hanjin Shipping is Korea’s largest and one of the world’s top ten container operators, which operates about 60 liners and tramper services, transporting over 100 million tonnes of cargo annually.