Amidst its US$300 million project aimed at upgrading and expanding its container terminal, the Port of Salalah has recently welcomed the arrival of the initial four out of 10 state-of-the-art ZPMC ship-to-shore cranes.
This milestone marks a significant step forward in the major Oman’s port endeavour, with completion slated for the first quarter of 2025. Upon project culmination, the terminal’s annual capacity will surge from 5 million to 6 million TEUs, solidifying the Port of Salalah’s pivotal role as a key regional hub.
Moreover, positioned strategically along the prominent East-West Shipping Lane, the Port of Salalah stands out as one of the most strategically positioned ports in the region, facilitating seamless access to the Middle East, Indian Subcontinent, and East Africa.
The newly acquired fully electric cranes, recognized as among the largest of their kind globally, set a benchmark in size and operational efficiency. Sporting a remarkable 75-meter outreach, surpassing the wingspan of an Airbus A380 plane, these cranes boast the capability to handle vessels up to 26 containers deep.
Furthermore, their lifting height of 58 meters above the rail and a total hoist height of 77 meters (including below the rail), coupled with a rated capacity under spreader of 65 tonnes, equips them to serve the largest Ultra Large Container Vessels currently in operation.
With the integration of this cutting-edge equipment and the ongoing implementation of Lean practices aimed at optimizing operational efficiency, the port anticipates further enhancements, setting new benchmarks in port stay times and industry-leading service standards.
Furthermore, an additional six cranes are scheduled for delivery in the second quarter of this year, complementing the four lower-specification cranes set for replacement. This collective addition of 10 new cranes will elevate the tally of ship-to-shore cranes at the terminal to 27.
The upgrade initiative is being spearheaded by APM Terminals Project Execution, alongside APM Terminals Asset Engineering and APM Terminals Crane & Engineering Services. It encompasses enhancements across all six existing berths and the expansion of the yard.
Alongside the new ship-to-shore cranes, the plan entails the acquisition of 12 electric Rubber Tyred Gantry (RTG) Cranes, two Reach Stackers, three electric empty container handlers, and 30 trucks and trailers.
The Port of Salalah is tasked with overseeing the supporting civil and IT infrastructure, which includes constructing a new access road and establishing a new power distribution substation. These measures align with the terminal’s ambitious decarbonization objectives, facilitated by the adoption of hybrid and battery electric container handling equipment. APM Terminals has set an industry-leading global commitment to achieve net zero emissions by 2040.
The initial batch of new cranes is scheduled to be operational by March of this year, with an additional six cranes and RTGs expected to follow suit in the third quarter. Drawing upon its extensive experience, APM Terminals aims to minimize disruption to shipping lines and landside customers during terminal upgrades, a strategy demonstrated recently in Mumbai and Los Angeles. Throughout the entire process, the terminal will maintain full operational functionality.
