Port of Duqm receives first containers of shipping giant CMA CGM

Muscat - Port of Duqm received the first containers of French shipping giant CMA CGM via the Oman express service operated by Oman Shipping Co through its subsidiary Oman Container Line.

The containers were loaded with project equipment for Sebacic Oman which will soon become the world’s largest sebacic acid plant in Duqm.

The CMA CGM containers which arrived at the Port of Duqm originated from China and were transshipped via another regional port, according to a press release. Port of Duqm received the containers in its early container terminal from where they will be delivered to Sebacic Oman’s site.

A ceremony was organised in the port to celebrate this major event under the patronage of H E Said bin Hamdoon al Harthy, undersecretary for ports and maritime affairs at the Ministry of Transport and Communications, and other senior officials from the major stakeholders.

Reggy Vermeulen, CEO of Port of Duqm, said the port’s container terminal is currently under construction and will be commissioned in the course of 2019. “However, it is crucial for the early development of the entire Duqm Special Economic Zone, which includes the port that the container activities already start earlier. This is why we have prepared a small preliminary container terminal on our commercial quay and entered into a strategic partnership with Oman Shipping Co to facilitate such early requirements.”

“We are delighted that CMA CGM has registered Duqm as a new destination in its vast network and are confident that other shipping lines will follow soon, given the steep container volume increases we expect to be developed in and around Duqm in the years to come,” Vermeulen said.

At the event, CMA CGM was represented by Claude Lebel, senior vice president for Gulf Region.

“Duqm is regarded as one of the most promising industrial and logistic developments in the Middle Eastern region. This is why it is very important for our group that we have Duqm on our radar even in this early stage. We expect to gradually grow our volumes for when the Duqm container terminal is commissioned in 2019. CMA CGM is shipping the future and shaping our presence in Oman,” Lebel said.

Pradeep Nair, CEO of Sebacic Oman said, “Being the first largest private industrial project in Duqm industrial zone, we are happy that this new service will allow us to import containers via sea which will reduce cargo movement over Oman roads substantially: This will be much safer and more cost efficient. Our plant shall be operational by end of 2017 and we will generate substantial containerised volumes which can also be handled via the same logistic partners.”