Muscat – Under the patronage of Eng. Ahmed bin Hassan al Dheeb, Deputy Chairman of the Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Freezone, the OOMCO Marine bunker fuel terminal at the Port of Duqm was officially inaugurated. OOMCO Marine is the bunker arm of Oman Oil Marketing Company SAOG (OOMCO).
Located in the Duqm Special Economic Zone (SEZAD), the OOMCO Marine bunker fuel terminal will supply the full range of bunker fuel to ships at the port and port anchorage, which promises to further position Oman as a world-class logistics and shipping hub. The inauguration ceremony was attended by Hilal Al Kharusi, Chairman of OOMCO, Tarik Al Junaidi, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of OOMCO, as well as other dignitaries.
Hilal al Kharusi, Chairman of OOMCO said, “Inaugurating the OOMCO Marine bunker fuel terminal at the Port of Duqm further strengthens the position of Oman as a world-class logistics and shipping hub, which is aligned with the objectives laid out in Oman’s Vision 2040. Our new fully operational terminal contributes to economic growth and diversification in Oman while capitalizing on its strategic position near established global trade routes.”
Tarik al Junaidi, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Oman Oil Marketing Company said, “The OOMCO Marine fuel terminal and associated bunker business forms part of our long-term strategy as a company to facilitate the growth of multiple sectors in Oman including shipping, logistics and of course energy and their respective infrastructure. For example, efficient shipping means access to raw materials needed for economic development, and enables the manufacturing and export of goods and products, while of course considering that shipping incurs the lowest environmental footprint in the transport segment on a per-ton basis. As for logistics, this is a prime sector for Oman and we are at the heart of this focus when it comes to providing ships bunker fuel supply at Duqm in the most cost-effective and efficient way.”
The bunker terminal at the Port of Duqm meets the increasing demands for high-quality and sustainable marine fuels, including the highest specification compliant HSFO, VLSFO, and LSMGO marine fuel, to International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 8217, as well as all low sulphur fuel-compliant marine fuels in line with International Maritime Organisation’s (IMO) decarbonisation targets. Bunkers are delivered by a port-based bunker barge and also directly by road truck, with the bunker barge capable of supplying VLSFO 0.5% Sulphur and LSMGO bunker fuels to vessels in the port and at anchorage, at a pumping rate of up to 1,000 m3 / hour.
The safe bunkering services provided by OOMCO’s marine fuel terminal ensure that all bunker deliveries meet the highest international specification standards, while it operates according to the health and safety protocols of the Port of Duqm and in line with Omani COVID-19 regulations. Vessels calling at Duqm can also take advantage of a range of other high-quality and diverse services at the port, including pilotage, freshwater supply, waste collection, tug services, crew change, de-slopping services, and ship handling, plus ship spares and dry dock services.
OOMCO’s bunkering services are underpinned by the nearby Duqm refinery.
Owing to its strategic location on Oman’s southeast coast and its close proximity to significant shipping traffic accessing the Suez Canal, Arabian Gulf and Indian Ocean, the inaugurated quality and eco-efficient marine fuel terminal aims to serve the international shipping market. This is not only an achievement for OOMCO, the leading marketer and distributor of multi-sector fuel and lubricant products, but a major milestone for Oman as continues to focus on logistics and shipping as key economic enablers of the national economy in line with the Oman Vision 2040.
