Ashraf AboArafe
The unique geographical location owned by the Sultanate of Oman is one of the major advantages and elements on which economic plans and programs are based, foremost of which is the ambitious “Oman 2040” vision, as this unique geographical location has become one of the most prominent tools for creating the future of the national economy, and investment was in land, sea and air ports And other logistical structures are one of the well-established trends that support the desired benefits in the development of the economy, and the Special Economic Zone at Duqm comes as one of the most prominent areas that express maximizing benefit from the Sultanate’s strategic location, and how to enhance it in favor of economic aspects and maritime leadership, as the region has a location linking the trade of the ancient world It sought to provide services that meet international and regional needs in all possible economic aspects.
Maximizing the use of the maritime geographical location, and striving towards restoring the maritime commercial hegemony, for which the country was famous throughout its ancient history, is an Omani philosophy that links the glories of the past with a present that keeps pace with global developments. Duqm Dry Dock comes as one of the projects that derive from the Omani reputation in the ship industry and maintenance, which seeks to lead and compete in its marine services and solutions in the Middle East and North Africa region to become a global provider in providing maintenance and repair services for giant ships. Exceeding the number of projects it has implemented since its inception in 2011, more than 1,300 maintenance projects for more than 550 local and international commercial clients from 45 countries, reflects the global and regional standing held by the project, which has achieved growth in financial revenues amounting to (57) million Omani riyals, and net profit. It reached (12) million Omani riyals by the end of the year 2022, to become one of the important tributaries of the national economy.
The language of numbers expresses the promising capabilities of the project that enabled it to carry out maintenance work for 221 ships, of which 190 were for periodic maintenance and 31 for carrying out other projects during the past year 2022 only, which included the installation of new navigational equipment and aids that support the maritime industry to make the ships’ life cycle safe and reliable. And sustainable, thus achieving a competitive number in the average period of ship repair and maintenance of 14 days, compared to the average of 18 days in other regional basins. With these achievements, Asyad Dry Dock Company is working to develop its services and add to its business portfolio the shipbuilding service, to be an extension of the distinguished Omani history in the ship industry, as it has an ambitious plan for expansion during the period (2023-2027 AD) that included the purchase of a floating dock, and the construction of new workshops, stores and equipment. And a section specialized in shipbuilding, which will contribute to raising the capacity by 20 percent for maintenance and repair services of various sizes and types of ships. Perhaps the signing of an agreement by the “Fleet to Supply Ships with Fuel” agreement with the “Marsa of Duqm Investment Company” to build and operate a refueling station for ships that stimulates commercial and freight traffic in the fishing port in the Wilayat of Duqm is a new step that enhances the utilization of the economic components owned by the Special Economic Zone at Duqm. The agreement represents a success and a big step that will design and build the fuel station in the fishing port of Duqm in line with international standards, ensuring the highest levels of safety and reliability and providing exceptional services in the field of supplying ships with fuel to the global shipping industry, which will contribute to strengthening the local and international fishing industries. The project is an important step for the fisheries industry in the Sultanate of Oman, and the fishing port in Duqm is one of the main pillars of the fisheries sector. It is also a strategic project. Because of its great economic return to the port of Duqm, as it will stimulate commercial and freight traffic, in addition to creating job opportunities for the benefit of a large group of fishermen.
