New CEO, COO appointed
MUSCAT -- C Steinweg Oman, the stevedore and operator of the multi-purpose cargo terminal at the Port of Sohar, has reported significant growth in vessel traffic and cargo volumes handled at its modern facility during 2006. Christophe Van Loon, who assumed charge yesterday as Steinweg Oman's new Chief Executive Officer, said the company continues to maintain strong year-on-year growth. "2006 has been a very good year. We handled 160 vessels last year, compared to 120 in 2005. Cargo volumes -- both project and dry bulk -- have been significantly higher as well. Transshipment volumes too have registered good growth during the year," he stated in remarks to the Observer.
Van Loon, Commercial Director since 2004, takes over from Klaas Filius, Managing Director, who completed his tenure with Steinweg Oman at the weekend. Last week, P A Govers, President of C Steinweg Handelsveem BV, the global logistics and stevedoring company, joined colleagues and well-wishers in paying rich tribute to Filius at a farewell held in his honour at the Grand Hyatt Muscat. Filius is credited with having overseen Steinweg's development in Oman from scratch.
"Klaas is a man who likes to start new companies and take on new challenges," Govers told attendees at the well-attended function. "Arriving in Oman in January 2004 along with Christophe, he built a greenfield operation in stevedoring, and in the handling of project and general cargo. There was only a quay, and no terminal infrastructure, when the first ship arrived in April 2005 with project cargo for Sohar Refinery. The discharge was a success. Klaas has shown what it takes to start up a greenfield operation," he said.
The new CEO, Christophe Van Loon, added: "Klaas has succeeded in the creation of a flexible and efficient terminal, which is now ready for further business expansion. His management skills have enabled us to develop the company in a short period of time." According to a statement issued by Steinweg Oman's board of directors, Filius's responsibilities will be assumed by Van Loon as CEO, and Corne Hulst as Chief Operating Officer (COO). Hulst, who hitherto held the function of Senior Business Development Manager, will continue to work on the business development of the company, as well as the daily management of the terminal and its activities.
Commenting on Steinweg's performance in 2006, Van Loon said the company benefited from a strong increase in project cargo destined for a number of mega-projects under construction at the industrial port. Major consignees included Sohar International Urea & Chemical Industries (SIUCI), Sohar Aluminium, and Oman Methanol. Also contributing to volumes are huge shipments of pipes earmarked for major water supply contracts and for PDO projects.
Project cargo volumes are expected to climb further during 2007 as construction of several industries picks up momentum, he said. They include Shadeed Iron & Steel, Sharq Sohar's steel melt shop, Aromatics Oman, and Sohar Aluminium. Last week, Steinweg handled the biggest ever shipment received at Sohar -- a consignment of 50,000 tonnes of steel billets for Sharq Sohar's existing plant at the nearby industrial estate. Transshipment activities are also expanding at the Steinweg terminal, says Van Loon. "Transshipment volumes have doubled over 2006 on the back of a growing realisation that Sohar's location outside the Arabian Gulf makes it an ideal hub for storage. We are working hard to promote Sohar Port's potential as a storage and transshipment facility for dry bulk cargo."
By Conrad Prabhu
© Oman Daily Observer 2007
