Port of Salalah enhances capacity with new general cargo and liquid bulk terminal

Dec 15, 2015: The Port of Salalah, a major Arab Gulf regional gateway port and transshipment hub on the Arabian Sea, has inaugurated a new deep-water General Cargo and Liquid Bulk Terminal, adding 20 million tonnes of dry cargo and six million tonnes of liquid bulk cargo annual handling capacity. The 1,266 meter-long quay facility is located on the leeward side of southern breakwater at the port and provides two 320 meter-long general cargo berths, and two 300 meter-long liquid bulk berths.

“The new facility is able to handle a wide range of vessels, ranging from naval ships, to vessels handling limestone, cement, livestock, project cargo and other dry bulk commodities as Salalah continues to grow as a key center of trade and logistics for the region” said David Gledhill, chief executive officer , Port of Salalah.

The new terminal was built by the Oman government at a cost of 55 million OMR ($143 million). The quay wall is 1,266 meters in length, 84 meters wide, and is dredged to a depth of 18 meters. The project also includes support structures such as power substations, a fire pump house, a prayer hall, a canteen, and administrative offices. Liquid bulk cargoes are an increasingly important commodity for Omani industry and trade.“A dedicated pipe corridor links the new liquid bulk terminal directly with one of our customers operating within the port, and in the future, an extension will connect with the Salalah Free Zone where new customers are setting up their plants,” said Ahmed Akaak , Deputy chief executive officer, Port of Salalah.

The Port of Salalah, which is operated by APM Terminals as part of the APM Terminals Global Terminal Network, and in which APM Terminals holds a 30 percent share, handled 3.03 million TEUs (twenty foot equivalent unit) in 2014, along with 10.3 million tonnes of bulk cargo.