MUSCAT: Oman’s Duqm authority has signed three major agreements for building four terminals at Duqm port, a fishing harbour, associated facilities and consultancy services related to the development in the Al Wusta region. Total value of these contracts is OMR168.7 million, according to a press release from Special Economic Zone Authority at Duqm (Sezad).
The first contract, which was bagged by a consortium of Turkey-based SERKA Company and Portuguese’s MSF Company, was for the second package of Duqm Port worth of OMR107.3 million. The scope of work include construction of four terminals on the commercial pier, including two for containers of about a length of 1,600 metres and 350 metres width to handle about 3.5 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) per annum. There will also be a terminal for dry bulk with a capacity of about five million tonnes per annum and mixed use terminal with a capacity of 800,000 tonnes per year. The second package, which is one of the most prominent projects at the port, also includes construction of the port’s operations area and will be completed within 30 months from the commencement date.
The second agreement to build a fishing harbour, which was bagged by Galfar Engineering and Contracting Company with a cost of OMR60.7 million, will be completed within 30 months. The proposed habour is the largest fishing harbour in Oman with an area of 600 hectares. It will have facilities including a fisheries industries area for processing plants and firms specialised in fish manufacturing and canning. The fishing harbour work also includes habour with a total length of 3.4 kilometres, a fixed pier for fishing purpose of 850 metres and a fixed pier for the Royal Oman Police of 50 metres. The scope of the project also include dredging the harbour basin up to 6 metres and land reclamation to construct port service buildings.
A tourist area with a wharf, pontoons, five floating moorings for fishermen pier with pontoons for Coast Guard, a crane for boat to maintenance, ramp for boats, marine services and facilities, service buildings, internal roads, parking lots and maintenance and repair workshops are other attractions. The fish industry area in Duqm will include 60 fish manufacturing facilities, cooling and freezing stores, and ship maintenance and repair workshops. The area aims to encourage fish farming, attract projects that add good value to Sezad, conduct research on fishery sector development at an equipped research centre and training centres.
The third agreement is for consultancy services and supervision of the fisheries harbour at Duqm and was awarded to Cering International Engineering Consulting Company, in association with AAK. These agreements form part of the government’s commitment to complete Sezad infrastructure to achieve the Sultanate’s economic plan. Yahya bin Said bin Abdullah Al Jabri, chairman of the Special Economic Zone Authority at Duqm (Sezad) has signed three agreements with three contracting firms on Monday.
Al Jabri said that the second package of Duqm Port includes the most important operational facilities for the commercial wharf and it will allow the commercial operation. He also indicated that the port is among the most important prime movers of Sezad and one of the strategic projects implemented by the Sultanate to support the national economy. The two contracting firms, which have won the contracts, have confirmed their commitment to construct the project on time.
