Port Services Corporation., (PSC) which operates and manages Port Sultan Qaboos in Muscat , has outlined a package of me asures designed to modernize and expand the Sultanate's premier com me rcial maritime me gateway. According to a senior official of the port, the me asures are essential to tackling inherent "infrastructure and operational constraints" faced by port users at Mina Sultan Qaboos. These initiatives were spelt out at a recent workshop on port develop me nt in Oman Organized jointly by the Ministry of Transport & Communications, and Japan - International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
Addressing the forum, Rajesh Khanna PSC's Business Develop me nt & Marketing Manager, stressed the underlying rationale for a major expansion of the port. "Port Sultan Qaboos (PSQ) has already reached its optimum capacity. The potential for protecting present business at the port is limited without expansion.
PSC is mooting an ambitious modernization plan that envision, among other things, 1,050 me tres of additional quay wall and 2,000 me ters of breakwater. The draft is proposed to deepened to - 18.9 me ters, While 33 hectares of the new storage area is envisaged. These proposals stem from the recom me ndations of leading consultants Halcrow International and JICA, whose respective reports are currently being evaluated by the authorities.
A further RO. 500,000 has been earmarked this year for the procure me nt of mobile cranes and reach-stackers. The IT system is also being upgraded at a cost of RO. 1.1 million. Top officials of PSC including Mr. Saud bin Ah me d Al Nahari, President, attended the workshop. Also present were representatives from the Ministry of Transport & Communications, Sohar Industrial Port Company, Salalah Port Services., and the wider port user community.
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© Press Release 2005
