OSC Takes Delivery of World’s Biggest Carriers from Chinese Shipyard

Oman Shipping Company celebrated the launch, delivery and naming of the biggest two carriers in the world at the port of Jiangsu Rongsheng Heavy Industries Company in Nantong in China.

The carriers will be used in the transportation of iron ore from Brazil to Oman Vale Iron Ore Palletising Company plant in Sohar. The celebration was held under the auspices of Dr Ahmed bin Mohammed al Futaisi, Minister of Transport and Communications and Deputy Chairman of Oman Shipping Company (OSC) who is currently visiting China.

In a statement to Oman News Agency (ONA), the minister said that the two vessels were named Vale Liwa and Vale Sohar and that their joining services stress the historic identity of the Oman’s rich history in the international marine trade. It also places the name of OSC alongside prestigious international companies operating in the field of marine shipping services. It is also an important qualitative leap in thefield of enhancing economic co-operation and trade relations among the Sultanate, China and Brazil.

He pointed out that the two vessels that were specially built for OSC will be used in transporting iron ore from Brazil to the Oman Iron Ore Palletising Plant Company at Sohar Port. These are two out of four vessels that will be built by Rongsheng Heavy Industries Company. He pointed out that the other two vessels, which are now being finalised, will be delivered in September and that when they join service, the number of multi-purpose vessels operated by Oman Shipping Company will be raised to 37.

He pointed out that the vessels which took 22 months or 4 million working hours. More than 40,000 tonnes of iron was used in the manufacturing of the vessels that are leased with a long term agreement to Vale Oman International, the biggest iron ore producer in the world. He added that OSC will transport iron ore from the export ports in Brazil to Oman Vale plant in Sohar Port in the North Al Batinah Governorate. He pointed out that each vessel, 360 metres long and 65 metres wide and 25 metres high, has the capacity of more than 400,000 tonnes. He also noted that OSC will do the technical operation of the two new vessels and that their joining service will enhance performance of the company and places the name of Oman well on the world marine industry. It will also enhance the ability of the company to compete with international companies in providing marine services. After that the chief guest toured the different facilities of the vessels and was briefed in detail about the modern technologies, as well as the safety, security and environment specifications, which the two vessels were provided with.

It is worth mentioning that since the launch of the commercial operation of OSC in 2003, the company increased its fleet to 37 commercial vessels, in addition to four carriers under construction, which after joining service will raise the company’s fleet to 41 vessels by 2014. The company plans to raise the capacity of its fleet to about 8 million ton by 2014, when all the carriers are received.

The celebration was attended by the Governor of Nantong city of China, Salim bin Mohammed al Nu‘aimi, Under-Secretary of Transport and Communications Ministry, Abdullah bin Saleh al Sa’adi, Sultanate’s Ambassador to China, besides a number of officials from the Finance Ministry, OSC, Oman Vale International and China. On the other hand, Dr Al Futaisi met with the Governor of Nantong and discussed with him issues related to enhancing joint co-operation between the two sides.