MUSCAT -- Shipping connectivity between Oman and the Far East is set to be significantly enhanced with the launch today of a new container service by Japanese shipping giant Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) to and from Port of Sohar. MOL-owned containership MOL Tyne arrives at Sohar Port's Oman International Container Terminal (OICT) on a maiden port call as part of its newly unveiled China -- Middle East Express (CMX) service. The service, which provides fast connectivity between Oman and the Far East, has been launched in partnership with American President Lines (APL).
"MOL's decision to include the Port of Sohar in its China -- Middle East Express is a further demonstration of its commitment to supporting the Sultanate's economic development by strengthening maritime connectivity with key markets around the world," commented Janaka Hewage, Shipping Manager -- Yusuf bin Kanoo, representatives of MOL in the Sultanate. "In fact, this maiden call by MOL Tyne recalls the groundbreaking visit by another MOL owned general cargo ship, MV Gaia Triumph, when it became the first commercial vessel to call at Port of Sohar at the outset of its opening in April 2004. It unloaded at the time a shipment of project cargo destined for the new Sohar Refinery," Hewage added in comments to the Observer.
Today's maiden call by the post-Panamax MOL Tyne, a modern containership with a capacity of around 5,400 TEUs, will be celebrated with the presentation of commemorative plaques by representatives of OICT and Yusuf bin Kanoo. The vessel, which arrives from Abu Dhabi, leaves for the Chinese port of Nansha after a daylong port visit. The CMX service was launched from Ningbo (China) on March 11, 2013 as a weekly service operating along the following route: Ningbo -- Shanghai -- Hong Kong -- Chiwan -- Singapore -- Jebel Ali -- Abu Dhabi -- Sohar -- Singapore -- Nansha -- Xiamen -- Ningbo. A total of six vessels are deployed on this route, with MOL providing one of the ships, MOL Tyne.
"In addition to the present services, MOL will be able to enrich service coverage as well as frequency between China and Middle East. MOL is committed to meet the customer needs by providing high-quality services and variety of port coverage," the Japanese shipping giant said in a statement.
According to Hewage of Kanoo, the service offers significant opportunity to Omani shippers and consignees to have their goods moved rapidly between the Sultanate and Far Eastern markets. "In particular, transit times on import merchandise from the Far East will be very attractive as the service operates non-stop from Singapore to Sohar Port. Omani exporters too will find the service useful in getting their goods to market relatively quickly," he stated.
The inclusion of Sohar Port in its new container-based service marks a further addition to MOL's Oman operations. The company is already a notable player in the Sultanate's LNG shipping operations. Its RO-RO subsidiary also operates a twice-monthly car service to Muscat's Port Sultan Qaboos. Furthermore, MOL has longstanding co-operative ties with the Omani government, represented by the wholly government owned Oman Shipping Company.
© Oman Daily Observer 2013
