In view of the nature of cargo it had to handle, C Steinweg Oman LLC’s (CSO) multi-purpose terminal was the first company in operation at the Sohar Industrial Port.

As major industrial firms began ordering equipment and raw materials, prior to beginning manufacturing operations, the terminal was in place to handle imports and project cargo that would be arriving at the new industrial port.
CSO, established in early 2004, was awarded a 25-year concession for all dry-bulk and break-bulk operations in the Port of Sohar. The concession agreement was signed in January 2004 and not long afterwards, in April of that year, CSO handled its first vessel. Ever since CSO has been busy in her operations and playing an important role in the industrialisation of Sohar.
According to CSO marketing director Christophe Van Loon, the terminal handled over 300,000 tonnes of imports comprising steel coils, steel billets and dry bulk cargo during the first five months of 2006 along with project cargo of 325,000 FRT. The project cargo was destined for the power plant, Kauther pipeline (Petroleum Development Oman), Al Batinah pipeline, fertiliser plant and the methanol plant.
In 2005, the terminal handled over 520,000 tonnes of imports comprising steel coils and steel billets and dry bulk copper concentrate and copper slag plus project cargo of 290,000 FRT for several projects including the refinery project, the power plant, the polypropylene plant and the Mina Al Fahal pipeline (connecting the already existing refinery in Muscat with the refinery in Sohar). Cargo handled in 2004 was imports of 110,000 tonnes of steel coils, steel billets and aluminium hydroxide as well as 135,000 FRT of project cargo for the refinery project.
Last year, for the first time, the terminal was involved with project cargo transshipment of heavy lifts and steel products. Again, in 2006, CSO started with transshipment operations of dry bulk cargo.
Another milestone will be the first exports from the terminal when some 55,000 tonnes of sulphur manufactured by Sohar Refinery Company will be exported per year via the CSO Terminal, commencing during the summer of 2006.
Among the significant events of 2005 and 2006 has been the handling of the heaviest single piece via ships’ cranes in Oman to date (January 2005). The Super Heavy lift was a column weighing 1,150 tonnes brought in for the refinery project. Other significant events have been the RoRo operations of four evaporators at 2,300 tonnes apiece for the power plant (November 2005 – March 2006) and the winning of the award for port operations in the second Seatrade International Maritime Awards.
The company sees a shift in the cargo-handling pattern.  Exports are likely to rise with several plants including the aluminium and iron and steel smelter projects expected to initiate construction in the third and fourth quarters of this year.
“The focus of CSO is now shifting towards sustainable business opportunities for the future,” said Van Loon. “Handling commodities for industries in Sohar Industrial Port after start-up of these industries will be of utmost importance for us.”
Describing the company’s strong achievements, Van Loon said: “CSO has built a reputation for fast handling of bulk (copper concentrate and slag), break bulk (steel billets and steel coils) and project cargo. Operations commence immediately on arrival.”
He recalled that when the first vessel arrived on April 24, 2004, only a part of the quay wall was paved. Equipment including mobile cranes and forklifts was rented locally and specialised crane operators were flown in from Rotterdam, Holland, to discharge the first vessels.  In May 2004 its own shore cranes and lifting equipment were installed and the terminal is now fully equipped to handle all dry bulk, break bulk and project cargo.
As regards safety records, CSO has not faced any lost time injuries, Van Loon said.
“CSO started its operations at Port of Sohar from scratch. All aspects of stevedoring and terminal operating were newly introduced into the port. It built up a profound experience in operations under difficult circumstances in relation to time constraints, training of local people, equipment accessibility etc,” he said.
The official added that a fast and flexible response to changes in circumstances was possible through a global plug-in/back-up of knowledge, equipment, experience and personnel.  “C Steinweg Oman LLC can rely on its extensive in-house expertise in bulk, break-bulk and container operations and can refer to the expertise of the international organisation of which it is part,” he said.
CSO is a subsidiary of Rotterdam-based C Steinweg Handelsveem BV.