The Port of Duqm, also known as Duqm Port,[2] is a seaport and road terminal[1] located at Duqm in the Al Wusta governorate of Oman. Duqm Port, integrated in the Special Economic Zone at Duqm (SEZAD), and located 550 kilometres (342 miles) south of capital Muscat, is equipped with a ship repair yard and dry dock facility. Overlooking the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean, the Port of Duqm is a joint-venture between ASYAD Ports and Consortium Antwerp Port.[2][5] Although operating since 2012,[2] it was not officially opened until 4 February 2022 by Mr. Asa'ad bin Tariq Al Said, Deputy Prime Minister for International Relations and Cooperation Affairs and Personal Representative of His Majesty the Sultan of Oman.[5]
| Port of Duqm | |
|---|---|
 Port of Duqm | |
 Port of Duqm location in Oman | |
Native name | ميناء الدقم |
| Location | |
| Country |  Oman |
| Location | Duqm, Al Wusta governorate |
| Coordinates | 19°39′N 57°42′E / 19.650°N 57.700°E [1] |
| UN/LOCODE | OM DQM [1] |
| Details | |
| Opened | 2012 [2] |
| Operated by | Oman Dry Dock Company (SAOC) |
| Owned by | Government of Oman |
| Type of harbour | Commercial and military |
| Land area | 453,000 square metres (112 acres) [3] |
| Size | 2,200 metres (7,200 feet) quay [2] 2,800 metres (9,200 feet) total [4] |
| No. of berths | nine [5] |
| Draft depth | 10 metres (33 feet) [2] |
| Cranes | 14 sets of jib cranes[4] |
| Docks | two graving docks |
| Ship capacity | 600,000 tonnes (661,387 tons) [3] |
| Environmental standard | MARPOL compliance[2] |
| Statistics | |
| Annual TEU | 1.5 million [6] |
| Annual revenue | US$ 1.5 billion |
| Website https://portofduqm.om | |
The Port of Duqm has a total area of 188 square kilometres (73 square miles), and includes land for industry, an oil storage terminal, commercial and government berths, a dry dock, and associated logistical lands. It is protected by a main breakwater and a secondary one; the height of the main breakwater is 11 metres (36 feet) above sea level and more than 22 metres (72 feet) on average to the sea floor, and is 4.1 kilometres (3 miles) in length. The length of the secondary breakwater is 4.6 kilometres (3 miles).[5]
Its commercial berth has four stations, including two container terminals with a length of about 1,600 metres (5,249 feet) and an annual capacity to handle about 3.5 million standard containers, a terminal for dry bulk materials with an annual capacity of about 5,000,000 tonnes (5,511,557 tons),[5] and a multi-use terminal with an annual capacity of about 800,000 tonnes (881,849 tons) and a Ro-Ro capacity of 200,000 cars per annum.[5]
International agreements
editIn August 2017, the Oman and the United Kingdom (UK) governments jointly established the UK Joint Logistics Support Base (UKJLSB) at Duqm Port.[7] The port has sufficient space and depth to berth the Royal Navy's latest Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers.[6][8] In 2018, the port was used for Exercise Saif Sareea 3 (Exercise Swift Sword 3), a 10-day long, bilateral tri-service military exercise.[9] Also in 2018, the Indian government announced that it would use Duqm Port for maintenance of Indian military vessels.[7]
In March 2019, the United States (U.S.) embassy announced an agreement for USA access to the ports at Salalah and Duqm.[10] In September 2020, the UK Defence Secretary announced a plan to triple the size of its UK Joint Logistics Support Base at the Omani port, with a further £23.8 million investment.[9]
Dry dock
editThe dry dock complex, originally known as Oman Drydock Company, now known as Asyad Drydock, includes ship repair and maintenance facilities.[11] It was opened a year before the main port in 2011.[2][3][4] In 2021, the yard completed the build of its first ship, an Omani-owned logistics support ship.[4][3]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c "United Nations Code for Trade and Transport Locations (UN/LOCODE) - (OM) Oman". Service.UNECE.org. United Nations Economic Commission for Europe. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "ASYAD | Duqm Port". ASYAD.om. ASYAD. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
- ^ a b c d "Private investments in Duqm SEZ total RO 3.6bn". www.OmanObserver.om. Muscat, Oman: Oman Observer. 2 February 2022. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
- ^ a b c d "Dry dock in Duqm builds first Omani logistics support ship". TimesOfOman.com. Times of Oman, Muscat Media Group. 11 November 2021. Retrieved 1 February 2023 – via Oman News Agency.
- ^ a b c d e f "Asyad Terminals–Duqm starts operations at Port of Duqm". www.OmanObserver.om. Muscat, Oman: Oman Observer. 20 February 2022. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
- ^ a b "UK secures naval base in Oman". Maritime-Executive.com. The Maritime Executive, LLC. 21 February 2019. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
- ^ a b Roy, Shubhajit (13 February 2018). "India gets access to strategic Oman port Duqm for military use, Chabahar-Gwadar in sight". IndianExpress.com. The Indian Express.
- ^ "Aircraft carrier Queen Elizabeth arrives at Duqm to participate in military exercise". TimesOfOman.com. Times of Oman, Muscat Media Group. 4 November 2021. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
- ^ a b "Defence Secretary announces investment in strategic Omani port". GOV.UK. Ministry of Defence / HM Government. 12 September 2020. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
- ^ Stewart, Phil (24 March 2019). Shumaker, Lisa (ed.). "With an eye on Iran, U.S. clinches strategic port deal with Oman". www.Reuters.com. Washington, USA: Reuters. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
- ^ "Oman Drydock Company". www.OmanDrydock.com. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
External links
edit
Media related to Duqm at Wikimedia Commons
- Port of Duqm — at ASYAD.om
