30 May 2015
Ceremony celebrates first call in SOHAR of shipping line Evergreen

Added global connectivity is significant upside for Oman imports/exports

Container terminal in SOHAR doubles its handling capacity in one year

SOHAR Port and Freezone celebrated the continued rapid growth of the Port as it welcomed the inaugural call of the container vessel 'Messini' on Friday. The new service, in partnership between Evergreen and Simatech, will now regularly connect SOHAR Port with other major ports in South Asia. The new line is an important addition as it broadens the connectivity of SOHAR with the world and will offer even more choice for Omani importers and exporters. 

His Excellency Sultan bin Salim Al Habsi, Chairman of the Board of SIPC, the Port Authority; His Excellency Said bin Hamdoon bin Saif Al Harthy, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Transport and Communications for Ports and Maritime Affairs; SOHAR Port and Freezone CEO's Andre Toet and Jamal Aziz; Albert Pang, the CEO of Oman International Container Terminal LLC (OICT); as well as representatives of the Evergreen and Simatech shipping lines were at the quayside on Friday ahead of the arrival of the vessel in SOHAR.

The ceremony also celebrated the continued rapid growth of SOHAR Port; since the closure of Port Sultan Qaboos in Muscat to commercial traffic in June last year, the handling capacity for container traffic at OICT in SOHAR Port has more than doubled. 

His Excellency Sultan Al Habsi, Chairman of the Board of SOHAR Port and Freezone, commented: "By attracting investment in Oman, we are realizing the vision of the government to create another major regional hub port which will help grow not only our captive cargo, but will also take full advantage of Oman's strategic location for transshipment activities." 

Andre Toet, CEO of the Port Authority, said: "Today's maiden call bears witness to the steady growth in both our handling capacity and our efficiency at SOHAR Port. The continued smooth operations at OICT have brought us new lines and more connections. Regular calls of vessels like the EGL Messini are a sign of even bigger things to come." 

SOHAR Port aims to ensure all Oman-bound cargo will be directed through Omani ports in the near future. Jamal Aziz, CEO of SOHAR Freezone said: "SOHAR Port Authority is actively working together with OICT and our other terminals on a strategy to ensure all Omani cargo flows are secured in Oman."

As SOHAR Port flourishes so does the Freezone; Jamal Aziz concluded: "We now have the capacity for 1.5 million TEUs annually through the Port and that translates directly into more business opportunities in SOHAR Freezone; as the Freezone grows as a manufacturing base, the Port will also grow its share of exports. Our aim is to build more in-country value all the way along the supply chain and today's ceremony marks another important step on that journey."

About SOHAR Port and Freezone
SOHAR Port and Freezone is a deep sea port and free zone in the Middle East, situated in the Sultanate of Oman around 200 kilometres northwest of its capital Muscat. With current investments exceeding US$21 billion, it is one of the world's largest port and free zone developments and lies at the centre of global trade routes between Europe and Asia. SOHAR provides unequalled access to booming Gulf economies while avoiding the additional costs of passing through the Strait of Hormuz. The existing road network and airport and the future rail system provide direct connectivity to the UAE and Saudi Arabia, as well as to the rest of the world. Equipped with deep-water jetties capable of handling the world's largest ships, SOHAR has leading global partners that operate its container, dry bulk, liquid and gas terminals including Hutchison Whampoa, C. Steinweg Oman, Oiltanking Odfjell and Svitzer. SOHAR Port and Freezone is managed by Sohar Industrial Port Company (SIPC), a joint venture between the Port of Rotterdam and the Sultanate of Oman.  www.soharportandfreezone.com 

© Press Release 2015