Oman: Port of Salalah Receives New Bulk Handling Equipment to Improve Efficiency

Port of Salalah General Cargo Terminal (GCT) has received new bulk handling equipment to improve efficiency. The equipment, comprising of three heavy duty Wire Rope Grabs were offloaded this morning at the port. The equipment is part of the ports investment in the expansion of its general cargo operations equipment.

The state-of-the-art Grabs cost $535K (RO 206K) and will be used to handle dry bulk cargo such as Limestone, Gypsum, Iron Ore, Corn and Wheat. The Grabs will be able to handle up to 30 ton lifts and operate at 600 metric tons per hour significantly increasing productivity and shortening vessel turnaround times. It is expected that a bulk vessel of 55K deadweight tonnage that would have taken 3.5 days to load will have its loading time at the port reduced by up to 40%, saving exporter’s significant vessel charter rates and improving the ports efficiency.

Peter Ford CEO of Port of Salalah said “We are delighted to take delivery of the new Grabs which will provide excellent flexibility in handling a range of products at the GCT. This new equipment will have a significant positive impact on cargo handling at the port and enhance our reputation as the preferred gateway for regional cargo. We are seeing record volumes of bulk cargo and the new grabs will ensure that we not only meet, but surpass customer expectations. Our current expansion at the general cargo terminal, which the government is ready to award the tender for, will see us able to handle 40 million tons of bulk commodities and 5 million tons of liquid products per annum within the next two years”

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Source: Port of Salalah, June 27, 2011.