Hutchison Ports Sohar, the operator of the container terminal at Port of Sohar, achieved another milestone with the maiden call of the first 14,000-TEU class container vessel berthing at the terminal.
MV YM Welcome, of Yang Ming Marine Transport Corporation (Yang Ming) under the Asia Gulf Express Service operated by the consortium ‘THE Alliance’, departed on Saturday, August 1, 2020. A second vessel of the same classification, MV YM Wellbeing, under the same service, is scheduled to call the terminal on Thursday, August 13.
To commemorate this visit by the largest container vessel to ever call at the Port of Sohar, Hutchison Ports Sohar’s management team organised a special celebration with the presentation of a memento to the ship’s master. The event was marked by the presence of Dr Rashid Mohamed Hamed al Kiyumi, Director General of Maritime Affairs, Ministry of Transport, Oman and representatives from the Director General of Customs, Sohar.
“The first half of 2020 has been challenging for the world due to the COVID-19 pandemic, nevertheless our terminal is maintaining 24/7 operations. I am proud that our terminal and our people have strived to continue to support and serve the trade in the Middle East by undertaking all health and safety precautions,“ said Anacin Kum, CEO of Hutchison Ports Sohar.
Hutchison Ports Sohar boasts a total of 16 direct services, three of which (India Express Service by Oman Shipping, Asia Gulf Express Service by THE Alliance and a regional service by the Mediterranean Shipping Company) were secured in the first half of 2020.
The company recorded an increase of 23 per cent in project shipments in the first quarter compared to the same period last year. The number of vessel calls jumped by 18 per cent, while the transshipment volumes and reefer exports recorded a year-on-year growth of 36 per cent and 24 per cent respectively
The terminal not only fared well in terms of operations but is also living up to its promise of digitisation. With the recent launch of ubi app, the Group’s mobile app, it truly brings the whole port to the users’ fingertips and E-Taslim for online transactions, working with Hutchison Ports Sohar has become much easier from the comfort and safety of customers’ premises.
Oman Observer is now on the WhatsApp channel. Click here
