MUSCAT -- Simatech, a leading common feeder operator in the Gulf and the Indian sub-continent region, has launched its maiden service to the Port of Sohar's Oman International Container Terminal (OICT), underlining the industrial port's growing appeal to regional and international shipping lines. MV Sima Paya, a medium-sized feeder vessel flying the Singapore flag, called OICT yesterday at the start of a service that offers significant advantages to shippers looking for speedy and convenient connectivity with ports in Iran and Pakistan, as well as the Gulf.
Commenting on the launch of the service, OICT's Chief Executive Officer Lawrence Teo said: "The Simatech service caters to an increasingly important segment of the maritime trade between Iran, Pakistan and the Gulf, including the Sultanate of Oman. With Sohar's inclusion in this service, Oman-based importers and exporters can also capitalise on the improved connectivity and attendant cost benefits associated with this service." Simatech runs regular feeder services to all main ports in the Middle East, Indian sub-continent and the Far East, providing feeder services to the majority of the main lines.
The company has now added Sohar on the eastbound leg of its weekly Iran-Pakistan Service (IPS) with the following port rotation: Karachi-Sohar-Jebel Ali-Bandar Abbas-Jebel Ali-Karachi. According to Teo, shippers and consignees now have a far greater choice of shipping lines, a far wider coverage of ports, and enhanced sailing frequencies to ship their goods to and from Sohar.
In particular, the Simatech service directly connects with the major ports of Jebel Ali (United Arab Emirates), Bandar Abbas (Iran) and Karachi (Pakistan). While shippers can take advantage of Simatech's network of feeder links with main lines, the company also offers slot capacity to shipping lines and non-vessel operating common feeder carriers (NVOCCs) on a Shipper-Own-Container basis.
Significantly, Simatech operates a fleet of 16 feeder vessels and also enjoys a partnership with Wan Hai Line (WHL). In Oman, Simatech is represented by Universal Freight Services Co LLC as its general sales agent. For OICT, the commencement of Simatech's services is a further boost to its efforts to attract more shipping lines to Sohar. Simatech joins a succession of well-known regional and international shipping lines that have launched operations to the Port of Sohar in recent weeks.
By Conrad Prabhu
© Oman Daily Observer 2008
