• 2018 January 29 15:42

    SOHAR Port and Freezone Hosts annual Business Reception

    SOHAR Port and Freezone on Wednesday, January 24, hosted its annual Business Reception at The Chedi in Muscat, and revealed its operating results for 2017, the company said in its press release. Despite volatility in the global maritime sector, SOHAR once again posted a year of consistent growth with an average of over one million tonnes of cargo handled by the port every week in 2017.

    Container traffic was up by 36% compared to 2016, dry bulk throughput increased by 25% year-on-year. SOHAR received 3,075 vessel calls in 2017, marking a significant increase of 17%, despite the continued global trend towards consolidation and larger ships.

    One of the major highlights for SOHAR in 2017 was the establishment of a 40-hectare food cluster at the port which will include a major flour mill, a world-class sugar refinery, and a grain silo complex. The former, operated by Sohar Flour Mills will have a capacity of 500 tonnes per day, while the planned sugar refinery, owned and operated by the Oman Sugar Refinery Company, will boast a production capacity of one-million tonnes per annum. SOHAR now operates a terminal at the port dedicated exclusively for the food cluster.

    Launched in 2017 and now nearing completion, the Sohar Port South expansion will add new deep-water berths and a further 200 hectares of land to SOHAR's present capacity of around 2,000 hectares. Given its proximity to the bustling petrochemicals cluster, the expansion will be earmarked almost exclusively for oil and gas-based investment.

    SOHAR Freezone also witnessed a number of milestones in 2017, the most significant of which was the signing with India's Pittie Group, one of the biggest cotton yarn manufacturers in the world, for a USD 300 million cotton yarn project. The project, when completed, will produce 100,000 tonnes of cotton yarn per year and generate over 1,500 sustainable jobs in the free zone. “Another major project was for the production of antimony, a mineral which is primarily used as a fire-retardant. In total around 26 companies are already reaping the benefits of unrivalled access to land, low-cost energy, and skilled workforce in the region,” said Jamal Aziz, Chief Executive Officer, SOHAR Freezone.

    Industries already located at SOHAR are also expanding with Oman Oil Refineries and Petroleum Industries (Orpic) boosting refinery capacity, from 120,000 to 180,000 barrels per day; while Gulf Mining are constructing five ferrochrome smelters to boost metals output. “Investment in the smelter is part of a push to grow our metals cluster; to complement and support iron and aluminium industries at SOHAR. The metals cluster at Sohar is one of the fastest growing, with a high economic yield. Studies indicate iron industries and their derivatives have experienced exceptional growth as they continue to strive to meet demand,” says Aziz. “Looking ahead, a USD 60 million deal with a UK-led consortium will see SOHAR house the largest rare earth metal plant of its kind outside of China. Plus, agreements with two of Oman’s biggest business houses will see an annual assembly within the free zone of 200,000 vehicles from some of the world’s leading automotive brands.”

    Another new addition to SOHAR Port in 2018 is Oman’s first bitumen refinery, a new plant that will significantly reduce the reliance imports of bitumen and asphalt for road paving and industrial applications. Taking advantage of the growing local and global market for asphalt and bitumen, the project will create new business opportunities and employment in Oman with 34 direct jobs for citizens generated in the first phase of operations. According to market projections, the capacity of phase 1 will be around 1.6 million tonnes per annum, with 35% allocated to the Omani market, 35% exported to GCC countries and 30% destined for the international market. The plant is backed by Sohar Asphalt LLC, an Oman-registered company who are investing $386 million in the new venture.

    Looking ahead at 2018, SOHAR is promoting the theme of ‘Smarter Thinking’, streamlining operations and improving efficiencies. “We work closely with our colleagues at the Port of Rotterdam in the areas of new logistics strategies and adopting the latest technologies. At SOHAR, we pride ourselves in promoting a ‘Smarter Thinking’ culture, one that ensures that innovative ideas are freely shared and championed,” says Geilenkirchen.


2024 March 28

16:25 DEME reports 22% increase in the orderbook and a record-high turnover of 3.3 billion euros in 2023
16:14 MABUX: Bunker Outlook, Week 13, 2024
15:41 AD Ports Group announced the opening of Saadiyat Marina & Ferry Terminal and Rabdan Marina
15:11 Sydney invests $11.5 million in two new operational vessels designed by Incat Crowther
14:55 China’s Jinzhao wins Peru $405m port construction contract
14:13 APM Terminals Moín handled six million TEU
13:48 ClassNK grants Innovation Endorsements for Products & Solutions to two innovative initiatives by MOL
13:37 Konecranes launches its flagship Konecranes X-series industrial crane
12:53 United European Car Carriers UECC spearheads collaboration with industry leaders to advance CNSL as a sustainable marine fuel
12:26 Ocean Network Express announces Transpacific service
11:48 Yang Ming announces 2025 Trans-Pacific service network
11:24 Fincantieri signs contract for the supply of two PPAs to Indonesia
10:42 Maersk transported more than 660,000 TEU using clean fuel in 2023
10:23 Documentation delays push industry costs to $3bn
09:48 PONANT and FARWIND Energy partner to develop green hydrogen refueling solutions

2024 March 27

18:22 Bureau Veritas awards world’s first prototype certification for SolarDuck’s floating offshore solar solution
17:58 The recently converted Allseas's shallow water pipelay barge starts preparations for its first commercial project
17:38 The Port of Rotterdam calls on the European Commission and Parliament to focus on actively promoting green energy
15:23 SEFE to become sole shareholder of WIGA
14:53 Ocean Installer secures yet another SLM contract with Equinor
14:23 Cadeler signs offshore wind turbine installation contract for the vessel Wind Scylla
13:42 Carnival Cruise Line orders 5th Excel-class cruise ship
13:11 Maersk and MSC overcharging cargo owners for EU ETS, says T&E
12:52 The Port Authority of Valencia launches the ZAL project in the Port of Valencia
12:11 Clarkson Port Services and Peak Group collaborate to deliver Port Agency services across the North Sea
11:42 Wan Hai Lines holds ship naming ceremony for new vessels
11:24 Consolidated shipping lines EBIT loss was $1.44 billion in Q4 2023: Sea-Intelligence
10:49 Seaspan Shipyards receives long-term contracts for the pre-construction work of the the Canadian Coast Guard's first six multi-mission vessels
10:14 Woodside completes sale of 10% scarborough interest

2024 March 26

18:02 COSCO Shipping Lines introduces new Americas service
17:30 Davie awarded first contract for design of icebreaker fleet under Canada’s National Shipbuilding Strategy
17:04 Sanctions complicate Arctic LNG ship sales, Hanwha Ocean says - Bloomberg
16:57 Terntank places an order for 1+1 additional wind/ methanol-ready hybrid tanker
16:28 BW LNG completes acquisition of two TFDE vessels from Stena Bulk
15:50 Hanwha Ocean develops VR-based special vehicle simulator
15:20 TotalEnergies and SINOPEC join forces to produce sustainable jet fuel at a SINOPEC's refinery
14:52 Wärtsilä Lifecycle Agreement to guarantee operational reliability of new wind farm installation vessel
14:23 Hudong-Zhonghua launches two LNG carriers
13:51 Cargo ship hits Baltimore’s Key Bridge
13:12 Final sanctioned tanker with Russian Sokol oil to reach China port - Reuters
12:42 Adani Ports acquires 95% of Odisha's Gopalpur Port from SP Group for $162 million
12:21 IHI and Yara Clean Ammonia agree to jointly assess clean ammonia business collaboration
11:41 Yara Clean Ammonia and Azane granted safety permit to build world's first low emission ammonia bunkering terminal
11:16 Wartsila and Royal Caribbean Group celebrate 15 years of collaboration on digital transformation
10:46 A global carbon tax on shipping is coming, says ABS Chairman and CEO
10:21 Eni, Fincantieri and RINA establish partnership for maritime transport decarbonization

2024 March 25

18:07 The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore continues to investigate reports of oil spills off the port of Tuas
17:31 “K” Line, NIPPON HAKUYO and OPT Gate sign an agreement for a new fire detection system for car carriers
17:07 Greek merchant fleet recorded slight decline in January 2024
16:47 Hanwha Ocean Plans to develop green technology and naval ships
16:25 U-Ming Singapore and ITOCHU sign milestone MoU for the joint development of ammonia dual-fuel and de-carbonized vessels
15:34 Svitzer targets methanol-fuelled MAN 175DF-M engine for tug application
15:04 Wallenius Wilhelmsen signs contracts for four 9,300 CEU vessels with China Merchants Jinling Shipyard
14:40 Taiwan International Port to upgrade terminal facility at Kaohsiung
13:59 Сruise ship Carnival Freedom catches fire near Bahamas
12:59 Hanwha Ocean wins 2.4 tln-won order for 8 LNG ships
11:16 Inland Ports meet in Paris to talk about the innovation potential of inland ports
10:50 IMO agrees possible outline for maritime “net-zero framework”
10:24 Hapag-Lloyd to continue to avoid the Red Sea route
09:58 QatarEnergy enters time charter agreements with Nakilat for the operation of 25 LNG vessels

2024 March 24

16:18 Inchgreen Marine Park upgraded as part of £11m investment
15:14 A ribbon-cutting ceremony for Solent Rail Terminal Rail was held at the Port of Southampton
14:08 ESNA and Strategic Marine join forces to offer Surface Effect Ship (“SES”) Crew Transfer Vessels (“CTV”) to the market
13:07 First LNG powered vessel calls at HIP
12:49 Inter-array cable installation completed at Neart na Gaoithe offshore wind farm
11:32 Equinor ASA posts net income at USD 11.9 billion in 2023
09:25 Edda Wind announces the sale of Edda Passat

2024 March 23

17:19 Maersk opens new warehouse facility in Tijuana, Mexico for cross-border capabilities
14:01 Bollinger Shipyard marks keel laying ceremony for 10th Navajo-class T-ATS
13:55 MEYER WERFT and Disney Cruise Line celebrate keel laying