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Hutchison Ports Sohar, the operator of Sohar Port’s modern container terminal, has reported an uptick in cargo volumes being routed through the maritime gateway by shipping lines seeking a viable alternative to the Red Sea route currently plagued by traffic disruptions.
According to the terminal operator, Sohar Port is increasingly preferred by carriers to load or discharge cargoes linked to markets previously served by ports in the Red Sea prior to the start of the maritime blockade mounted by the Yemen’s Houthi movement last November.
Sohar Port’s preference as an alternative to the Red Sea route lies in its appeal as a ‘landbridge’ that enables cargo flows to and from countries deep within the Arabian Peninsula and as far afield as the Mediterranean region as well. Overland connectivity between Sohar and these markets is enabled by a desert highway, first launched in 2021, that cuts through The Empty Quarter in the Wilayat of Ibri before penetrating deep into Saudi Arabia.
“The ideal landbridge route for seamless connectivity is through Oman’s direct road link to Saudi Arabia through Rub Al Khali (The Empty Quarter),” the terminal operator explained.
“With the landbridge facility available through Hutchison Ports Sohar, Sohar Port is a viable alternative gateway port connecting via road transport to other GCC countries during this crucial time. With this direct road access, coverage can extend to Saudi Arabia and other surrounding Red Sea areas as well. The potential for coverage can be further expanded to include Mediterranean and European ports by connecting the ports in the Red Sea, while connecting to Mediterranean countries and Europe by sea.”
Significantly, Hutchison Ports Sohar has recorded an increase in volumes being transported through Sohar during the last few months. These volumes are not limited to containerized cargoes alone, but other types as well, depending upon the requirements of traders in the region, the operator points out. This is made possible by the joint efforts of all stakeholders involved, including the port authority, customs, terminal operators, shipping lines and logistics companies.
Also aiding this effort is a task force set up by Hutchison Ports Sohar in coordination with Sohar Port and Free Zone and other stakeholders. “The taskforce collaborates with relevant authorities to promote Sohar as a gateway with seamless processes, to capitalize on the opportunities and to position Sohar as a truly logistical hub per the Sultanate of Oman Logistics Strategy 2040,” the terminal operator noted.
Complementing Sohar’s appeal as an alternative gateway are a number of factors: its strategic location outside of the Strait of Hormuz, and proximity to major markets like India, UAE, Saudi Arabia and other GCC countries. Furthermore, with many carriers and common feeder operators calling at Sohar Port, shippers have a wide range of flexible options to choose from, it added.
Oman Observer
