PSC chief for updating marine laws

MUSCAT: Saud bin Ahmed Al Nahari, chief executive officer of the Ports Services Corporation (PSC), has called for amendments in the marine and navigation laws to keep abreast with the changing requirements of the current stage.

In a statement to Al Shabiba, the sister publication of Times of Oman, Saud said one of the key challenges for the PSC was to make available specialised cadres in the ports and sea transport sectors.

He noted the growth and expansion of economy and economic activities in the Sultanate during the past years and the execution of a number of key projects by the government as well as the private sector had positively impacted the operational performance of the Corporation.

The PSC was keen to provide all facilities and services at Port Sultan Qaboos as per the international standards, he said. This, he said, included high quality communications with the vessels, providing well qualified marine guides, safe anchoring facilities outside the port, improved fuel supplies, and 24-hour container terminal services among other facilities.

On the operational performance of the PSC during last year, he said it was "balanced". Last year, Port Sultan Qaboos received 1,858 ships as compared to 1,737 in 2009 - an increase of 7 per cent.

The number of containers handled in 2010 amounted to 306,464, an increase of 10.2 per cent as compared to 2009. The number of vehicles handled in 2010 was 96,031, while the total goods stood at 275,775 tonnes - a decrease of 5 per cent compared to 2009.

During the nine months of the current year, the movement of vessels at Port Sultan Qaboos decreased by 3.5per cent as compared to corresponding period in 2010. Port Sultan Qaboos received 109 tourism vessels in 2010 as compared to 79 during the January-September 2011 period, he said.

Speaking about the development stages of Port Sultan Qaboos, the official said that since its opening in 1974, the port has seen five development and expansion stages. On the PSC efforts to attract international marine lines, he said they had earmarked a marketing plan for promoting the services and facilities of the PSC.

The PSC gives top priority to the requirements of clients, and to this effect, it organises meetings with the managements of the various marine shipping companies and agents as well as exporters and importers, he said.

The PSC has also participated in international conferences as part of its efforts towards marketing its services and facilities, he added.

As for the challenges and obstacles facing the sea transport sector in the Sultanate, he said the development of Oman's ports would continue to keep pace with the requirements of the international shipping companies.

The authorities concerned are working on the necessary development plans to make available the necessary services and facilities at each port in Oman, in cooperation with the managements of the said ports, he noted.

Making available well qualified and specialised cadre in ports and sea transport sector is one of the key challenges, he said. "We have an international specialised marine college that we hope would bridge the gap during the coming years," he expressed confidence.

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