05 March 2011
MUSCAT -- A new fisheries harbour is proposed to be established at Taqah in Dhofar Governorate, adding to a network of modern harbours and related infrastructure that underpin the continued growth of Sultanate's vibrant fisheries sector.
Envisaged at Taqah is a greenfield harbour that will support the wilayat's mainstay fisheries industry. The facility is proposed to be built at a site less than two kilometres from Taqah town just off the main Salalah-Mirbat carriageway. When operational by around the first quarter of 2013, the harbour is expected to provide further fillip to fishery-related activities in the governorate.
More than 20 local and international construction firms are vying for a contract to build the harbour facility on behalf of the Ministry of Fisheries. Companies that are looking to participate in a tender for the contract include: Afcons Infrastructure, Galfar Engineering & Contracting, Consolidated Contractors, Sarooj Construction, Gammon India, Strabag Oman, Middle East Dredging, STFA, Six Construct, Jan De Nul Group, Hani Archirodon, Target Engineering, 115 Construction, Simplex Infrastructures, National United Engineering, J&P Overseas, Al Adrak Trading, Perlite Construction, Carillion Alawi, Oman Company for Building and Essar Projects. Bids open on April 4, 2011.
According to officials, the project is conceived as a mid-sized harbour protected by a pair of breakwater arms extending to a total length of 1.783 kilometres. The breakwaters will be built with rubble mounds reinforced with concrete armour units. Dredging and reclamation represent a significant component of the project. As the site lacks naturally available water depth, the harbour basin and approach channel will be dredged to a depth of -5 metres. While unsuitable dredged material will be disposed offshore, the useful material, along with other soil sourced from onshore locations, will be used to reclaim land that will house a variety of landside facilities.
To cater for larger vessels calling Taqah, the harbour will boast a 150-metre-long quay wall constructed with precast concrete blocks. For smaller craft however, a guided floating pontoon system is envisaged, featuring a pair of concrete pontoons built on steel piles and connected to shore by means of a gangway. A boat ramp will also be constructed to allow for fishing vessels to be hauled ashore for repairs or other purposes.
Besides, the selected contractor will be required to design and install a marina facility to serve a variety of small yachts and leisure craft that may seek to use Taqah as a mooring facility in the future.
Importantly, the harbour facility will boast a full range of support infrastructure, including an ice plant, cold storage facilities, fuel station and fish auction hall. Areas within or adjoining the harbour will be allocated for private sector investment in boat repair, workshop, and other fishery-related facilities.
Significantly, the development of Taqah fishery harbour is part of the government's Ten-Year Fisheries Sector Development Plan (TYFSDP), a comprehensive fishery harbour development programme for the entire country. The objective of the TYFSDP is to develop a modern fishery industry backed by a network of harbours, processing and market facilities.
Well-known consulting firm Consulting Engineering Services LLC (CES) is supporting the Ministry of Fisheries in the design and construction supervision of Taqah fishery harbour, among a number of other harbour schemes. In addition to Taqah, CES has also provided design and engineering consultancy services linked to the expansion of the Sur fishing harbour, as well as the construction of new fish harbours in Seeb and Suwaiq. Fish harbours are also proposed at Nafun (Duqm), Barka and Musannah.
Over the past decade, the government has invested in excess of RO 50 million in the construction of 15 fishing harbours at various coastal locations. Over RO 20 million had been earmarked for similar projects under the current Five-Year Plan (2006-2010). The 8th Five-Year Plan (2011-2015) envisions new marine fishery habours in the wilayats of Barka, Musannah, Mahout, Sadah and Shuwaymiyah at a total cost of RO 25.6 million.
MUSCAT -- A new fisheries harbour is proposed to be established at Taqah in Dhofar Governorate, adding to a network of modern harbours and related infrastructure that underpin the continued growth of Sultanate's vibrant fisheries sector.
Envisaged at Taqah is a greenfield harbour that will support the wilayat's mainstay fisheries industry. The facility is proposed to be built at a site less than two kilometres from Taqah town just off the main Salalah-Mirbat carriageway. When operational by around the first quarter of 2013, the harbour is expected to provide further fillip to fishery-related activities in the governorate.
More than 20 local and international construction firms are vying for a contract to build the harbour facility on behalf of the Ministry of Fisheries. Companies that are looking to participate in a tender for the contract include: Afcons Infrastructure, Galfar Engineering & Contracting, Consolidated Contractors, Sarooj Construction, Gammon India, Strabag Oman, Middle East Dredging, STFA, Six Construct, Jan De Nul Group, Hani Archirodon, Target Engineering, 115 Construction, Simplex Infrastructures, National United Engineering, J&P Overseas, Al Adrak Trading, Perlite Construction, Carillion Alawi, Oman Company for Building and Essar Projects. Bids open on April 4, 2011.
According to officials, the project is conceived as a mid-sized harbour protected by a pair of breakwater arms extending to a total length of 1.783 kilometres. The breakwaters will be built with rubble mounds reinforced with concrete armour units. Dredging and reclamation represent a significant component of the project. As the site lacks naturally available water depth, the harbour basin and approach channel will be dredged to a depth of -5 metres. While unsuitable dredged material will be disposed offshore, the useful material, along with other soil sourced from onshore locations, will be used to reclaim land that will house a variety of landside facilities.
To cater for larger vessels calling Taqah, the harbour will boast a 150-metre-long quay wall constructed with precast concrete blocks. For smaller craft however, a guided floating pontoon system is envisaged, featuring a pair of concrete pontoons built on steel piles and connected to shore by means of a gangway. A boat ramp will also be constructed to allow for fishing vessels to be hauled ashore for repairs or other purposes.
Besides, the selected contractor will be required to design and install a marina facility to serve a variety of small yachts and leisure craft that may seek to use Taqah as a mooring facility in the future.
Importantly, the harbour facility will boast a full range of support infrastructure, including an ice plant, cold storage facilities, fuel station and fish auction hall. Areas within or adjoining the harbour will be allocated for private sector investment in boat repair, workshop, and other fishery-related facilities.
Significantly, the development of Taqah fishery harbour is part of the government's Ten-Year Fisheries Sector Development Plan (TYFSDP), a comprehensive fishery harbour development programme for the entire country. The objective of the TYFSDP is to develop a modern fishery industry backed by a network of harbours, processing and market facilities.
Well-known consulting firm Consulting Engineering Services LLC (CES) is supporting the Ministry of Fisheries in the design and construction supervision of Taqah fishery harbour, among a number of other harbour schemes. In addition to Taqah, CES has also provided design and engineering consultancy services linked to the expansion of the Sur fishing harbour, as well as the construction of new fish harbours in Seeb and Suwaiq. Fish harbours are also proposed at Nafun (Duqm), Barka and Musannah.
Over the past decade, the government has invested in excess of RO 50 million in the construction of 15 fishing harbours at various coastal locations. Over RO 20 million had been earmarked for similar projects under the current Five-Year Plan (2006-2010). The 8th Five-Year Plan (2011-2015) envisions new marine fishery habours in the wilayats of Barka, Musannah, Mahout, Sadah and Shuwaymiyah at a total cost of RO 25.6 million.
© Oman Daily Observer 2011
