Expanded Duqm port secures long-term growth potential

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More importantly, it will allow for a significant enhancement of commercial operations at Duqm with an eye on the potentially huge cargo volumes expected to be generated by investments in major industrial, petrochemical, mineral and fisheries projects, as well as a free trade zone planned next door to the port. "The Duqm project has kept evolving in scope and capacity from the outset. Going by the enormous success of the Sohar Industrial Port, the government is keen to ensure that Duqm's future growth potential is not impeded by capacity constraints. This latest expansion takes into account Duqm's longer term potential for growth," a senior government official explained.

As a result of the scale-up, the port basin has been significantly enlarged with the breakwaters extended to a total of 7.7 km (from 5.3 km), the basin dredged to -18m (from -16m), the approach channel further deepened to -19m (from -18m), and the draft at the commercial quays also dredged to -18m. Importantly, the total length of the commercial quays has been tripled from 700 metres originally, to 2,250 metres. The commercial berths, which are planned alongside the main breakwater, will be equipped to handle container, grain, cement, commodity, and a range of dry bulk carriers. Aggregates, such as limestone, are seen as an important commodity of export through Duqm. Equally promising are exports of fresh and processed fish by reefer container.

Berths for coal and liquid carriers have been earmarked along quays to be built alongside the lee breakwater. With plans being firmed up for a coal-based 1000MW power and desalination plant at Duqm, the port is being prepared to receive coal carriers of around 150,000-tonne capacity. The coal is proposed to be transported by conveyor belt to the site of the IWPP, which is planned just north of the port.

Dredging to these depths within the port is seen as economically unfeasible. Consequently, authorities are looking at suitable alternative locations in the vicinity of the port, or loading platforms similar to the single buoy mooring (SBM) system at Mina al Fahal in Muscat. Significantly, the revised plan for Duqm port will have no impact on the ship repair yard already under construction within the port complex.

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Significant progress has also been achieved on other fronts, according to officials. Construction of the main breakwater has already crossed the 700-metre mark, while work on the core of the breakwater has progressed for a further 1,300 metres. A joint venture of CCC and STFA is currently implementing the marine works package, covering the construction of the breakwaters and quay-wall, as well as the reclamation works. Dredging giant Jan De Nul (JDN) is handling the dredging works. Some 30 million cubic metres of dredging will be undertaken by JDN as part of its contract.

Dredged sand is being pumped ashore to reclaim the site for the ship repair yard, while dredged silt material is disposed off. The company has deployed the world's largest cutter-section dredger, Jan De Nul, at site. Reclamation for the commercial quays is not expected to commence for at least another year.

Despite its remote location, the project site is abuzz with activity, complete with a major quarry, site roads, precast yards, high-capacity concrete batching plant, camp for around 2,000 workers, and a reverse osmosis (RO) plant for potable water. The expanded port, scheduled earlier for completion during the 2010-11 time frame, is now expected to be ready only by mid 2012. Royal Haskoning, in association with Khatib & Alami, are consultants for the Duqm port project, which is being overseen by the Ministry of Transport and Communications.

© Oman Daily Observer 2008