(Duqm Port) Receives One of the World’s Largest Roll-on/Roll-off Ships from China
Muscat, Sept 3 (KUNA) -- Duqm Port today received one of the world’s largest car carriers, arriving from China with more than 1,200 vehicles destined for Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) markets. This arrival underscores the port’s growing capacity to handle large-scale vehicle shipments and reinforces its role in linking Asian markets with regional ones.
In a statement, Duqm Port said the reception of the BYD Changsha vessel confirms the port’s readiness to accommodate large-capacity car carriers and its ability to handle vehicle cargoes efficiently, leveraging its advanced infrastructure and operational and logistical capabilities. The port’s annual vehicle handling capacity reaches approximately 300,000 vehicles.
Speaking to the media, Reggie Vermeylen, Chief Executive Officer of Duqm Port, said the arrival of the first BYD vessel at Duqm Port marks an important milestone in the development of vehicle handling operations and reflects growing confidence in the port’s capabilities and its role in regional trade flows.
Vermeylen added that the port’s strategic location on the Arabian Sea, outside the Strait of Hormuz, combined with its infrastructure and logistical capabilities, enhances its competitiveness as a gateway connecting Asian markets with the Sultanate of Oman and GCC countries. He pointed to growing opportunities to attract additional trade routes and serve global companies seeking more efficient access to regional markets.
He affirmed that Duqm Port will continue to develop its capabilities and build strategic partnerships to strengthen its role in supporting trade and investment flows, contributing to consolidating Oman’s position as a regional hub for trade and logistics services.
The Chinese vessel has a total capacity of approximately 9,200 vehicles. On its voyage to Duqm Port, it carried specifically 1,219 vehicles destined for GCC markets. The entire cargo will be discharged at the port, with more than 200 vehicles allocated to the Omani market, while the remainder will be distributed to several GCC markets, including Kuwait and Qatar.
Duqm Port, located within the Duqm Special Economic Zone in the Al Wusta Governorate, features a commercial quay 2.2 kilometers long with draft depths reaching 18 meters alongside the berth, qualifying it to receive large commercial vessels and handle various types of cargo, in addition to providing specialized vehicle handling services within roll-on/roll-off (Ro-Ro) operations.
The strategic location of Duqm Port on the Arabian Sea, outside the Strait of Hormuz, enhances its ability to serve international trade routes and access markets in the Indian subcontinent, Asia, Africa, and GCC countries. (End) M.G.B. / T.M.A.
