Complicated operations
The Port of Rotterdam Authority is involved in the development of SOHAR Port & Freezone and, since 2003, has held a fifty per cent share in SOHAR Industrial Port Company. SOHAR Port authority is the landlord of SOHAR Port and responsible for managing and development port infrastructures. “The collaboration between SOHAR and Rotterdam can be recognised from strategic and operation levels. The joint venture has contributed to the developments of SOHAR Port rapidly”, explained Alshibli. “We have also expanded our commercial network via Rotterdam and have succeeded in attracting multinationals including Vale, Hutchinson and Steinweg.”
Port-related knowledge
Knowledge transfer is another important aspect of the joint venture and this works in both directions, said Ali Alyamani. “During the early developments phase, port-related knowledge and experience was very rare in Oman, for instance knowledge in port master planning and design, marine infrastructure developments and management. The matured level of SOHAR expertise in port related aspects are now also being transferred to the Port of Rotterdam Authority.
Expansion projects
Like Rotterdam, SOHAR uses the Navigate system to enable smarter container transport planning. “The collaboration with Rotterdam offers us the advantage that we can closely monitor digitisation and automation trends, because Rotterdam is one of the pioneers in this”, Alshibli noted. “We are currently working on expansion projects with the Port of Rotterdam team, including SOHAR South Phase 2”, said Alyamani. Both ports will continue cooperating on future-proof port management systems, maintenance strategies and sustainability for the foreseeable future.
Alshibli: “The cooperation with Rotterdam is productive for SOHAR in many respects. We are extremely pleased with this partnership.”