Oman International Container Terminal (OICT) has officially unveiled its eagerly anticipatedtruck appointment system (TAS)at itsoperations at Sohar Industrial Port Company.Launched under the auspices of H.E. Dr Ahmed Mohammed Salem Al-Futaisi, Minister of Transport and Communicationin Oman on 21 January,TAS promises to revolutionise logistics industries and supply chains throughout Oman, according to Albert Pang, Chief Executive Officer at OICT.“TASincludes new roads and dedicated truck lanes and brings us a step closer tomaking the entire logistics system more efficient in terms of our own operations and our customers’ supply chainsin Oman,” said Pang. TAS will allow truck drivers to schedule collection and delivery of cargo at the container terminal in advance of their arrival through either a mobile app, a dedicated website, or an interactive voice response number.
Meanwhile, the system will not only allow Omani logistics companies to view peak periods and schedule their trips to the port accordingly, creating cost savings through productivity gains, it will enable OICT to better plan and allocate resourcesin real-time.“We continue to expand our container handling capabilities as part of our commitment to cater to the world’s largest container ships.At the same time we recognise the importance of facilitating smoother land transportation.The TAS system will enable us to do just that,” said Pang.The launch of the new system follows total investments made by OICTinthe expansion of infrastructure atSohar of over US$184 million, and is part of a long-term vision.“We remain committed to building a modern container terminal that contributes to the overall efficiency of the port at Sohar. Part of this will be realised through reduced wait-times for drivers through TAS. We also expect to be able to identify trends and potential bottlenecks before they arise and take appropriate action,” said Pang.TAS will be available for use immediately and will serve logistics companies linking up withsome of the world’s biggest shipping companies, including United Arab Shipping Company, CMA CGM and APL,which operate out of OICT.
About Oman International Container Terminal (OICT)
Oman International Container Terminal (OICT) is a joint-venture between Hutchison Port Holdings Limited (HPH), the Government of the Sultanate of Oman, Steinweg of the Netherlands and a number of other well-established Omani investors. OICT is a modern container-handling facility with capabilities of accommodating the latest generation of mega-vessels. OICT is situated in the Port of Sohar, outside the Straits of Hormuz in the Gulf of Oman, approximately 200 km from Muscat and 160 km from Dubai.OICT is a member of HPH, the port and related services division of CK Hutchison Holdings Limited (CK Hutchison). HPH is the world’s leading port investor, developer and operator with a network of port operations comprising 319 berths in 52 ports, spanning 26 countries throughout Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe, the Americas and Australasia. Over the years, HPH has expanded into other logistics and transportation-related businesses, including cruise ship terminals, airport operations, distribution centres, rail services and ship repair facilities.