Salalah Port seems to be coming into its own with a bang. It was only in the late 1990s that a plan to convert the port into a world-class shipping facility was put in place, but with investment and top-class management, it is already showing signs it will fulfil its potential as a vital gateway between Asia and Europe. The port will also be a key factor in the development of the free zone around it and Salalah Port Services (SPS) company has in fact been named project manager for the zonal development programme, an important initiative in the Sultanate's strategy to diversify the present oil-based economy. Hillwood Strategic Services is the strategic partner for the development

AP Moller holds 30 per cent of SPS' shareholding with the Omani government holding 20 per cent and Pension Funds 11 per cent. Another 20 per cent has been allotted through a public offering while private investors hold 19 per cent. The government has signed a 30-year concession agreement with SPS to operate and manage a world-class container terminal at the port and SPS acts as the port authority on behalf of the government.

The port was recognised as the fastest-growing container port of the top 100 ports for 1999-2000, achieving growth of 59 per cent and beating Kwangyang, South Korea (57 per cent) and Ningbo, China, (50 per cent).

In the first full year of operation in 1999 it handled 649,003teu of which 98.6 per cent was transhipment and in the following year it surged robustly, handling 1,032,692teu, 99.5 per cent of which was transhipment.

Teu figures for the first quarter of this year were 279,405 and for the second quarter 570,983. Vessels visiting the port were 180 in the first quarter and 352 in the second. According to director for marketing and sales W.B. Burns, Salalah has consistently been exceeding 200 container moves per hour and reached 252.6 moves per hour on the Susan Maersk on November 22, 2000. The 'S' Class vessel, which arrived on proforma from Europe, completed a total of 1,103 moves with a gross crane productivity of 40.7 moves per hour. The port set a new record with 255.6 moves per hour achieved on the Carsten Maersk on December 6, 2000. The 'S' Class vessel, arriving on proforma from Europe, completed a total of 1,397 moves with a gross crane productivity of 40.8 moves per hour, up slightly from the previous record of 40.7 moves per hour.

"Achieving high productivity figures is only one part of the equation," says Burns. "Today, with ever increasing complexities in the networks and the need for multiple connections at various hubs, consistency is also extremely important. To date we have been averaging approximately 30 GMPH per crane on a consistent basis.

The previous year's averages were 21 GMPH in 1999 and 26GMPH in 2000, so as you can see there is also an improvement pattern and we will continually focus on this to reach even higher standards and set the benchmark for others." The port has worked closely with its customers and vessel crews to ensure that not only is there high productivity but that it is consistent and dependable. "A significant amount of attention is also paid to ensuring the vessel spends the minimum time in port from the time the pilot boards until the vessel departs the pilot station," says Burns. "All of this is backed by an advanced IT system that enables us to not only communicate with our customers but plan our operations with extreme efficiency and accuracy. It is this attention to detail that has allowed the port of Salalah to quickly establish itself as a world leader in productivity and customer service."