20 February 2010
MUSCAT: The Sultanate's first ultra modern passenger cruise terminal was opened at Port Sultan Qaboos (PSQ) yesterday with Costa Deliziosa -- a brand new vessel from the Costa Crociere stable -- becoming the first cruise liner to call at the 3,300sqm terminal.
The terminal -- a joint venture of Ministry of Transport and Communication, Ministry of Tourism and Port Services Corporation -- has been built at a cost of RO2.7 million.
Chief guest at the inaugural function Mohammed Al Toobi, undersecretary, Ministry of Tourism, said, "The opening of this terminal is a huge gain for our tourism industry especially with the number of cruise liners visiting Oman expected to see a big surge in the years to come."
More than 300,000 tourists are expected to arrive at the port this year, while a total of 84 cruise vessels have already called at the port in 2009. "Cruise shipping is the sleeping giant of our tourism industry and the ministry is serious about making it work for the country," the undersecretary said.
Features
The full vessel traffic control system room will have a sophisticated maritime automatic Radio Identification System (AIS), state-of-the-art Direction Finder (DF) and CCTVs.
The Port Control Tower -- which is 30 metres high -- is equipped with a high-end video phone and automatic door lock system. Besides, the cruise terminal is monitored by port security.
The terminal has a quay -- landing place -- length of up to 470 metres and has 11 to 13 metres draft -- the depth to which a vessel is immersed when bearing a given load -- for ships of all sizes.
The ground floor hosts the arrival and departure halls, immigration, coffee shop, Internet café, tourism office, shipping and travel agencies, baggage counter, customs. A money changer and an ATM are expected to open soon.
Duty-free and coffee shops and handicraft shops are located on the first floor.
"Such a terminal, the first in Oman, is going to add valuable services to cruise operations. We are proud to see this dream become a reality," said Saud bin Ahmed Al Nahari, CEO, Port Services Corporation, adding that the PSQ would now become an important cruise destination.
"It is time for PSQ to keep on improving. Under phase two, we expand our facilities to handle big cruise ships.
"Right now, our port can receive ships of size 260 metres but we will soon have ports to handle ships of size 350 metres and above," Al Nahari said.
Looking further ahead, Al Nahari says plans are also on to open more cruise terminals in other ports.
"More hotel rooms need to be made available along with better air connectivity. If more destinations are added more passengers will disembark in Oman for extended stay. This will substantially benefit the national economy," he said.
Pointing out that Port Sultan Qaboos was selected among the four most efficient ports out of 231 ports and destinations at the Sea Cruise trade exhibition hosted in Miami, USA, in 2008, Al Nahari said: "This speaks a lot for us and with this terminal we can live up to our image."
"Moreover, with Dubai closing its terminal, we are the only cruise terminal operating in the region," he said. Said bin Hamdoun Al Harthy, undersecretary, Ports and Maritime Affairs, Ministry of Transport and Communication and other officials were present for the inaugural ceremony.
MUSCAT: The Sultanate's first ultra modern passenger cruise terminal was opened at Port Sultan Qaboos (PSQ) yesterday with Costa Deliziosa -- a brand new vessel from the Costa Crociere stable -- becoming the first cruise liner to call at the 3,300sqm terminal.
The terminal -- a joint venture of Ministry of Transport and Communication, Ministry of Tourism and Port Services Corporation -- has been built at a cost of RO2.7 million.
Chief guest at the inaugural function Mohammed Al Toobi, undersecretary, Ministry of Tourism, said, "The opening of this terminal is a huge gain for our tourism industry especially with the number of cruise liners visiting Oman expected to see a big surge in the years to come."
More than 300,000 tourists are expected to arrive at the port this year, while a total of 84 cruise vessels have already called at the port in 2009. "Cruise shipping is the sleeping giant of our tourism industry and the ministry is serious about making it work for the country," the undersecretary said.
Features
The full vessel traffic control system room will have a sophisticated maritime automatic Radio Identification System (AIS), state-of-the-art Direction Finder (DF) and CCTVs.
The Port Control Tower -- which is 30 metres high -- is equipped with a high-end video phone and automatic door lock system. Besides, the cruise terminal is monitored by port security.
The terminal has a quay -- landing place -- length of up to 470 metres and has 11 to 13 metres draft -- the depth to which a vessel is immersed when bearing a given load -- for ships of all sizes.
The ground floor hosts the arrival and departure halls, immigration, coffee shop, Internet café, tourism office, shipping and travel agencies, baggage counter, customs. A money changer and an ATM are expected to open soon.
Duty-free and coffee shops and handicraft shops are located on the first floor.
"Such a terminal, the first in Oman, is going to add valuable services to cruise operations. We are proud to see this dream become a reality," said Saud bin Ahmed Al Nahari, CEO, Port Services Corporation, adding that the PSQ would now become an important cruise destination.
"It is time for PSQ to keep on improving. Under phase two, we expand our facilities to handle big cruise ships.
"Right now, our port can receive ships of size 260 metres but we will soon have ports to handle ships of size 350 metres and above," Al Nahari said.
Looking further ahead, Al Nahari says plans are also on to open more cruise terminals in other ports.
"More hotel rooms need to be made available along with better air connectivity. If more destinations are added more passengers will disembark in Oman for extended stay. This will substantially benefit the national economy," he said.
Pointing out that Port Sultan Qaboos was selected among the four most efficient ports out of 231 ports and destinations at the Sea Cruise trade exhibition hosted in Miami, USA, in 2008, Al Nahari said: "This speaks a lot for us and with this terminal we can live up to our image."
"Moreover, with Dubai closing its terminal, we are the only cruise terminal operating in the region," he said. Said bin Hamdoun Al Harthy, undersecretary, Ports and Maritime Affairs, Ministry of Transport and Communication and other officials were present for the inaugural ceremony.
By MRUDU NAIK
© Times of Oman 2010
