Muscat, January 2010
Oman Oil Marketing Company (omanoil) was recently awarded a marine fuel bunker license by Sohar Industrial Port Company SAOC (SIPC) for the establishment of world-class marine fuelling operations in the Port of Sohar. The agreement was signed by HE Maqbool Ali Sultan, Minister of Commerce and Industry and Chairman of SIPC, who signed the agreement on behalf of the Port.
The license was awarded by SIPC, the Port’s key authority, in partnership between Oman Oil Marketing Company and Matrix Marine Holding GMBH to supply marine fuels of various grades including; marine fuel oil, marine gas oil and marine lubricants to all local and international vessels calling the Port’ terminals at the anchorage area.
On the occasion, Eng. Omar Ahmed Qatan, CEO of omanoil expressed, “Attaining this imperative bunkering license is a clear reflection of our world-class reputation which has drawn a large number of industry giants to partner with us. As the flagship of the nation, we are proud of further solidifying our partnership with SIPC, which will add an immense degree of value to the Port’s activities and strategic advantages as they continue to expand their operations.”
omanoil views bunkering as a critical component of a vessel’s dynamic operations which requires important coordination between all parties involved from the point of ordering until completion of delivery at the Port. In addition, the Company invests heavily in maintaining safe working practices through sound HSSE practices and well trained staff in all aspects of its operations, with particular focus on safe fuelling to avoid oil marine pollution.
Continued operational vigilance and effective implementation remain the drivers of omanoil’s activities, as it continues to identify sophisticated transfer and loading procedures of receiving and delivery facilities to vessels and barges. All of these attributes are key components to ensure completion safely and effectively, and therefore reduces the risk of harming the marine environment. A number of marine fuelling systems will also be implemented to ensure the success of the bunkering process, such as advanced oil transfer systems, overflow systems and lube oil transfer systems.
As an active contributor to the growth of the national economy, the recent license to serve the ever growing operations of the Port, comes in the light of omanoil’s rapid expansion of its retail network and string of successes in a number of specialized industries, such as the numerous aviation fuel agreements which were signed recently with leading international airlines.