14 December 2010
MUSCAT -- The Sohar Port Special Projects (SPSP) of Sohar Industrial Port Company (SIPC) signed an agreement with Shipping and Transport College (STC)/ International Maritime College of Oman (IMCO) on the usage of the new state-of-the-art simulators at the college.
The signing ceremony took place on the new jetty of Port in the presence of officials from Port of Sohar, Ministry of Transport and Communication and STC Group Holding. Director of STC Group Holding, Albert Bos signed on behalf of STC/IMCO and the CEO for the Port of Sohar, Jan H Meijer signed together with one of the Board members of SIPC, Han Ligteringen for SIPC/SPSP.
The ceremony was Witnessed by the Under-Secretary, Ports and Marine Affairs, Ministry of Transport and Communication Said bin Hamdoon al Harthy and Head of SPSP, Edwin van Espen.
The IMCO was established in April 2005 as a joint venture between the Government of Oman and the STC Group of Rotterdam. The STC-Group has more than 25 years experience providing and innovative learning environment for students in the maritime, transport and oil and gas industries.
The STC-Group is a world-wide strategic combination of education, training, research, consultancy and implementation service providers for the entire shipping, port, transport and logistics chain, as well as for the port-related petrochemical industries.
Since September this year, IMCO is operating from an area of 8.5 hectare right next to the Port of Sohar.
The college is now ready to receive 1000 students. Being close to the Sohar Industrial area and the entire maritime and process-operational industry, it means that the companies will be supplied with all necessary trainings.
In May 2008 a contract was signed between the Government of Oman, the Port of Rotterdam and Vale, the largest iron ore company in the world.
This Brazilian mining giant is investing $1.4 billion in the construction of a pelletizing plant that will supply the region with steel pellets. In addition, Sohar will also function as the distribution centre for iron ore to be exported to the Middle East, India and Africa.
The Port of Sohar is constructing a large deep-water jetty capable of receiving the next generation of Very Large Ore Carriers of 400.000 dwt to the port.
The jetty and the pelletizing plant are nearing completion and the focus is shifting to the actual port operations.
The bulk jetty is located in deep water and in the open sea mainly because of the fact that the jetty will be used by the largest bulk carriers in the world. Four of these vessels are presently under construction for Oman Shipping Company. Therefore there will be specific "deep draft vessel" procedures in place in order to have safe and efficient movement of these vessels. Port of Sohar and STC/IMCO will develop specific procedures related to the marine operations. IMCO is offering unique services in many ways and they are reflected in their extensive simulator complex which is unique in terms of size and set-up. It is used to familiarise people in training with the entire transport chain from door to door.
Simulators are an unsurpassed resource for acquiring skills and enhancing competence.
In total there are four ship-(bridge) simulators, three engine room simulators, a Global Maritime Distress Safety System (GMDSS) simulator, simulators for cargo and crane handling, a chemical plant simulator, a power plant simulator and a unique Transport Chain Simulator. IMCO is the only college in the GCC region with such facilities.
The training programme will make use of these advanced simulators in order to train the marine personal involved such as marine pilots, tug boat masters, port control officers and terminal operators. The complete project of drafting procedures and the training will take around five months.
It is expected that from May 2011 onwards, the first vessels will call at the jetty to bring Brazilian iron ore to Oman. At the same time, iron ore and pellets can be distributed from Sohar to the greater Middle East and beyond.
The contract is of tremendous importance for the Port of Sohar as well as for IMCO and STC. The management of the port is always striving to further improve the quality and with more and more interest in the port as well as the upcoming Freezone Sohar in its vicinity it is a vital part of the development.
MUSCAT -- The Sohar Port Special Projects (SPSP) of Sohar Industrial Port Company (SIPC) signed an agreement with Shipping and Transport College (STC)/ International Maritime College of Oman (IMCO) on the usage of the new state-of-the-art simulators at the college.
The signing ceremony took place on the new jetty of Port in the presence of officials from Port of Sohar, Ministry of Transport and Communication and STC Group Holding. Director of STC Group Holding, Albert Bos signed on behalf of STC/IMCO and the CEO for the Port of Sohar, Jan H Meijer signed together with one of the Board members of SIPC, Han Ligteringen for SIPC/SPSP.
The ceremony was Witnessed by the Under-Secretary, Ports and Marine Affairs, Ministry of Transport and Communication Said bin Hamdoon al Harthy and Head of SPSP, Edwin van Espen.
The IMCO was established in April 2005 as a joint venture between the Government of Oman and the STC Group of Rotterdam. The STC-Group has more than 25 years experience providing and innovative learning environment for students in the maritime, transport and oil and gas industries.
The STC-Group is a world-wide strategic combination of education, training, research, consultancy and implementation service providers for the entire shipping, port, transport and logistics chain, as well as for the port-related petrochemical industries.
Since September this year, IMCO is operating from an area of 8.5 hectare right next to the Port of Sohar.
The college is now ready to receive 1000 students. Being close to the Sohar Industrial area and the entire maritime and process-operational industry, it means that the companies will be supplied with all necessary trainings.
In May 2008 a contract was signed between the Government of Oman, the Port of Rotterdam and Vale, the largest iron ore company in the world.
This Brazilian mining giant is investing $1.4 billion in the construction of a pelletizing plant that will supply the region with steel pellets. In addition, Sohar will also function as the distribution centre for iron ore to be exported to the Middle East, India and Africa.
The Port of Sohar is constructing a large deep-water jetty capable of receiving the next generation of Very Large Ore Carriers of 400.000 dwt to the port.
The jetty and the pelletizing plant are nearing completion and the focus is shifting to the actual port operations.
The bulk jetty is located in deep water and in the open sea mainly because of the fact that the jetty will be used by the largest bulk carriers in the world. Four of these vessels are presently under construction for Oman Shipping Company. Therefore there will be specific "deep draft vessel" procedures in place in order to have safe and efficient movement of these vessels. Port of Sohar and STC/IMCO will develop specific procedures related to the marine operations. IMCO is offering unique services in many ways and they are reflected in their extensive simulator complex which is unique in terms of size and set-up. It is used to familiarise people in training with the entire transport chain from door to door.
Simulators are an unsurpassed resource for acquiring skills and enhancing competence.
In total there are four ship-(bridge) simulators, three engine room simulators, a Global Maritime Distress Safety System (GMDSS) simulator, simulators for cargo and crane handling, a chemical plant simulator, a power plant simulator and a unique Transport Chain Simulator. IMCO is the only college in the GCC region with such facilities.
The training programme will make use of these advanced simulators in order to train the marine personal involved such as marine pilots, tug boat masters, port control officers and terminal operators. The complete project of drafting procedures and the training will take around five months.
It is expected that from May 2011 onwards, the first vessels will call at the jetty to bring Brazilian iron ore to Oman. At the same time, iron ore and pellets can be distributed from Sohar to the greater Middle East and beyond.
The contract is of tremendous importance for the Port of Sohar as well as for IMCO and STC. The management of the port is always striving to further improve the quality and with more and more interest in the port as well as the upcoming Freezone Sohar in its vicinity it is a vital part of the development.
© Oman Daily Observer 2010
