PORT SULTAN QABOOS
Port Services Corporation was established in 1976 under Royal Decree No. 46/76 to operate and manage Port Sultan Qaboos.

The port infrastructure built in 1974 has undergone several upgradations over the years with a total of 13 berths and a maximum draft of 13 M chart datum. It provides safe and sheltered berthing to all types of vessels. Pilotage services are provided by competent and qualified pilots with the help of a fleet of four powerful tugs. A wide range of modern cargo handling equipment is available to handle diverse cargo such as containers, general cargo, break bulk, liquid bulk, vehicles and passengers. The container terminal is equipped with five quayside gantry cranes and a tractor trailer system backed by eight RTGs to ensure quick turnaround of vessels. The conventional section specialises in handling general cargo and special imports for the development projects of the Sultanate. The port also caters to the tourist traffic and the government has concrete plans for the establishment of a specialised cruise terminal in the near future.

Located 250 kms south of the Strait of Hormuz along the coast of Oman, Port Sultan Qaboos is also an ideal transshipment hub for the Arabian Gulf, the Indian subcontinent and markets in East Africa.

PORT OF SALALAH
Established in 1997 as part of the Government's endeavour to foster privatization and diversify the present oil-based economy in the Sultanate.

The Government has signed a 30-year concession agreement with Salalah Port Services (SPS) to operate and manage a world class container terminal at the Port. The Port consists of the Conventional Port as well a Container Terminal. SPS acts as the Port Authority on behalf of the Government. The Government has also signed an agreement naming SPS as the Project Manager for the Salalah Port Free Zone to be developed adjacent to the Port of Salalah, with Hillwood Strategic Services as the strategic partner.

The world class container terminal was opened in November 1998 with two completed berths. A further two berths were added in April '98 a good three months earlier than schedule, showing that even with such an ambitious schedule the company was able to advance it.

In a relatively short span of time, since the first container ship arrived at Port Salalah, it has achieved a ranking in the top 20 ports worldwide. In the Middle East it is the only deep water port which can accept the huge 'S' class vessels and has one of the highest productivity levels compared worldwide. Currently the Port of Salalah handles 1 million TEU annually and is considered to be one of the most highly productive ports in the world.

The Port is also currently evaluating a further extension of approx. 800 meters of quayside, which would be 2 x 400-meter berths with a depth alongside of 18 meters. This would include an extension to the present breakwater. The Port includes the container terminal, general and bulk cargo terminal and also harbour master and marine activities. The current facilities available at Port Salalah are
stevedoring, storage of non refrigerated containers, refrigerated container plugs, container maintenance and repair, vessel berthing, tug services, pilotage, fire brigade, medical center, pollution control and navigational services, bunkers and cruise vessels.

At present, the shore cranes used at Port Salalah are amongst the largest ever built and are more sophisticated with a longer out reach capacity than anything else available in the region. They have been designed to service any ship in existence or planned for the foreseeable future. No other port has six cranes of the same capacity. The Port boasts of state-of-the-art computer facilities with the latest technology for the exchange of information.