29 March 2011
MUSCAT -- A new phase in the development of Duqm Port will commence shortly with the imminent award of a key contract for the development of landside infrastructure within the port complex.
Five well-known local and international firms are bidding for a contract to execute the landside infrastructure package on behalf of the Ministry of Transport and Communications.
In the race for the project, estimated to cost in the range of $175-200 million, are Consolidated Contractors Company, Strabag Oman, Galfar Engineering & Contracting, Assignia Infrastruturas, and National United Engineering Construction Company.
The selected contractor will build a network of triple lane and double-lane dual carriageways within the port, as well as single lane carriageways running a total length of 37 kilometres.
Also as part of its brief, the contractor will build infrastructure for potable water and firefighting networks, drainage, sewerage, telecommunications and electrical systems and street-lighting.
Around 14.5 kilometres of drainage channels will be constructed as well, in addition to several kilometres of concrete ditches and box culverts. Earthworks involving the excavation of some 7 million cubic metres of soil also represent a key component of the contract.
Construction work on the seaport project itself is now in an advanced stage with the first phase slated for completion by mid-2012. Envisaged in this phase are around 2,250 metres of quay wall designed to accommodate eight commercial and multipurpose berths. The commercial quays, suitable for container and general cargo vessels, will boast drafts of up to -18 metres, enabling massive merchant ships to call at Duqm. A separate 980-metre quay wall will cater exclusively to government and service vessels.
A substantial scale-up of the harbour basin, initiated by the government in 2008, will allow for a dramatic ramp-up of berth capacity and port facilities in future years. The breakwater arms have been significantly extended to a total length of 8.6 kilometres to accommodate future expansions that could potentially lead to a quadrupling of the commercial berths to a total of 42 over the long term.
Given its strategic location overlooking the Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean, Duqm Port is being developed to serve as a growth engine that will catalyse socio-economic development across the Wusta coast and its hinterland.
In addition to hosting a world-class ship repair yard, due to be commence trial operations in the coming weeks, the seaport is also seen as ideally positioned to house, among other things, facilities for the storage of oil, grain, bitumen and cement, among other commodities. Also under consideration is a terminal for National Ferries' high-speed ferry service, as well as berths for the handling of bulk commodities and liquids.
Operation and management of Duqm Port will be overseen by the 50:50 joint venture of the Government of Oman and Consortium Antwerp Port (CAP) of Belgium. CAP itself is a partnership of Antwerp Port Consultancy, which is a 100 per cent subsidiary of the Port of Antwerp, and Rent-a-Port, a specialised Belgian-based port services consultant and investor.
Duqm Port will also anchor the so-called Duqm Development, a landmark initiative by the government to transform a 1,276 square kilometre coastal swathe around the port into an ambitious industrial, economic and urban help.
The Supreme Committee for Town Planning, which is overseeing the master-planning of the Duqm Development, has already earmarked zones for the establishment of a Free Trade Zone, Industrial Park, Fishery Harbour, Tourism Zone, Residential Township, and Airport, as well as dedicated areas for utilities, such as power and water, wastewater and solid waste management.
MUSCAT -- A new phase in the development of Duqm Port will commence shortly with the imminent award of a key contract for the development of landside infrastructure within the port complex.
Five well-known local and international firms are bidding for a contract to execute the landside infrastructure package on behalf of the Ministry of Transport and Communications.
In the race for the project, estimated to cost in the range of $175-200 million, are Consolidated Contractors Company, Strabag Oman, Galfar Engineering & Contracting, Assignia Infrastruturas, and National United Engineering Construction Company.
The selected contractor will build a network of triple lane and double-lane dual carriageways within the port, as well as single lane carriageways running a total length of 37 kilometres.
Also as part of its brief, the contractor will build infrastructure for potable water and firefighting networks, drainage, sewerage, telecommunications and electrical systems and street-lighting.
Around 14.5 kilometres of drainage channels will be constructed as well, in addition to several kilometres of concrete ditches and box culverts. Earthworks involving the excavation of some 7 million cubic metres of soil also represent a key component of the contract.
Construction work on the seaport project itself is now in an advanced stage with the first phase slated for completion by mid-2012. Envisaged in this phase are around 2,250 metres of quay wall designed to accommodate eight commercial and multipurpose berths. The commercial quays, suitable for container and general cargo vessels, will boast drafts of up to -18 metres, enabling massive merchant ships to call at Duqm. A separate 980-metre quay wall will cater exclusively to government and service vessels.
A substantial scale-up of the harbour basin, initiated by the government in 2008, will allow for a dramatic ramp-up of berth capacity and port facilities in future years. The breakwater arms have been significantly extended to a total length of 8.6 kilometres to accommodate future expansions that could potentially lead to a quadrupling of the commercial berths to a total of 42 over the long term.
Given its strategic location overlooking the Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean, Duqm Port is being developed to serve as a growth engine that will catalyse socio-economic development across the Wusta coast and its hinterland.
In addition to hosting a world-class ship repair yard, due to be commence trial operations in the coming weeks, the seaport is also seen as ideally positioned to house, among other things, facilities for the storage of oil, grain, bitumen and cement, among other commodities. Also under consideration is a terminal for National Ferries' high-speed ferry service, as well as berths for the handling of bulk commodities and liquids.
Operation and management of Duqm Port will be overseen by the 50:50 joint venture of the Government of Oman and Consortium Antwerp Port (CAP) of Belgium. CAP itself is a partnership of Antwerp Port Consultancy, which is a 100 per cent subsidiary of the Port of Antwerp, and Rent-a-Port, a specialised Belgian-based port services consultant and investor.
Duqm Port will also anchor the so-called Duqm Development, a landmark initiative by the government to transform a 1,276 square kilometre coastal swathe around the port into an ambitious industrial, economic and urban help.
The Supreme Committee for Town Planning, which is overseeing the master-planning of the Duqm Development, has already earmarked zones for the establishment of a Free Trade Zone, Industrial Park, Fishery Harbour, Tourism Zone, Residential Township, and Airport, as well as dedicated areas for utilities, such as power and water, wastewater and solid waste management.
© Oman Daily Observer 2011
