MUSCAT: Oman’s national shipping fleet is projected to top 60 vessels by 2016-2017 as state-owned Oman Shipping Company ( OSC ) continues to shore up its capability to meet the maritime transportation needs of the nation’s burgeoning energy and industrial sectors.
According to Tariq al Junaidi, Acting Chief Executive Officer, OSC ‘s diverse shipping fleet now comprises a total of 42 vessels with an aggregate capacity of around 7.8 million deadweight tonnes (DWT).
A further 10 MR tankers (medium range product carriers) are due to join the fleet over the next two years.
Together with additional chartered tonnage, the fleet is expected to swell to a world-class 60 vessels by 2016-17, the official said, ahead of the 2nd GCC Supply Chain & Logistics Conference, which opens today at Al Bustan Palace — A Ritz Carlton Hotel.
OSC is supporting the two-day event as Platinum Sponsor in line with its commitment to supporting the Omani government’s goal of positioning the Sultanate as a regional gateway and logistics hub.
” OSC always focuses on supporting the Omani economy not only by leveraging the import and export of Omani cargoes, but also by providing shipping solutions which will enhance connectivity between Omani ports, as well as other ports in the region. Having well connected ports and linkage to hub ports in the region is essential for Oman in order to be a logistics gateway,” said Al Junaidi.
OSC now boasts a well-diversified national shipping fleet that includes gas carriers, tankers, bulk carriers and liners catering to a wide range of industrial and economic activities in the country.
With the growth of the mining and mineral processing sector, the company is now keen to offer its formidable resources and expertise to meet the shipping needs of this promising industry as well. OSC would like to see itself supporting the growth of the mining industry of Oman, notably in handling the exports of Omani minerals and bulk commodities, mainly from Salalah and Sohar, as well as Duqm in the future,” said Al Junaidi. Going forward, OSC says it intends to actively partner Omani industries and companies in meeting their shipping needs and thereby enhance the value proposition of their businesses and support economic growth in general.
“In 2015, Oman Shipping Company plans to focus on a long-term strategy to serve Oman by leveraging the import and export of Omani cargoes. With the potential growth of the existing industrial hubs, and the establishment of new ones, the Company must position itself to be the first choice shipping solutions provider, in particular, for Oman-based firms,” said Al Junaidi.
Additionally, OSC is closely monitoring developments in the Duqm Special Economic Zone where the company envisions a lot of potential in the tanker, bulk and container segments of the shipping business.
” OSC sees a lot of opportunity not only to grow in Duqm, but also to play a major role in supporting Duqm’s development and enhance its connectivity with local as well as regional hubs. Indeed, OSC ‘s support to Duqm is important and has the potential to extend across of the company’s business operations, including tankers, bulk, liner and heavy lift.”
On the technical management side, Oman Ship Management Company (OSMC), a wholly owned subsidiary of OSC , saw the size of its fleet under in-house technical management expand to 26 vessels by the end of 2014, up from 23 during the previous year. Ships under technical management include LNGs, VLCCs, Product and Chemical Tankers, VLOCs and Multi-Purpose vessels — a testament to the growing prowess of Oman’s national shipping company.
