Oman’s Port of Salalah has been ranked sixth transshipment port globally in the field of handling container vessels, according to the Container Port Performance Index (CPPI) for 2020 and a report released by World Bank and IHS Markit.

The World Bank report indicated that the coronavirus pandemic highlighted the role of ports and related logistics chains in the global economy, reported Oman News Agency (ONA).

This is besides a port's impact on the durability of businesses and the improvement of maritime route flexibility, said the report. In addition to streamlining logistics and maintaining import chains, ports have a significant impact on the performance of economies, the smooth flow of medical supplies, foodstuff, agricultural products, energy supplies and basic services that facilitate economic life in different countries, the report added.
 
The same view was reiterated by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).

UNCTAD rated the Sultanate’s ports as No. 1 in the world in terms of speed of container handling, as per the UNCTAD annual index 2020.

According to UNCTAD’s Port Liner Shipping Connectivity Index (PLSCI), the Port of Salalah provides the highest liner shipping connectivity in Oman (PLSCI value 55 in Q3 of 2020) and has continued to do so since the PLSCI statistics was first published back in Q1 of 2006.

The Port of Salalah affirmed that the duration of vessels’ stay in a port or the speed of dealing with the vessel is determined by a number of factors, the most prominent of which is the speed at which services are rendered by the departments concerned, including maritime service departments at the port, the Directorate General of Customs at the Royal Oman Police and the Ministry of Health.

Mark Hardiman, CEO—Port of Salalah, said: “We are proud, through our efficient port operations, to have contributed to raising the profile of Omani ports on the global stage. This would not have been possible without the strong commitment and dedication displayed by the staff at every level across the organization and the strong commitment of our customers, stakeholders and business partners which have helped us retain one of the top spots globally.”

Scott Selman, CEO of the container terminal of Port of Salalah said: “I’m happy to see the strong efforts of the Port of Salalah team being recognised. The team has done a fantastic job deploying lean tools through our Way of Working to drive safety and efficiency for our customers. We will continue to collaborate closely with our global customers to deliver world-class service.”