Al Duqm Port & Drydock
Al Duqm Port & Drydock is a seaport located in Oman. The port is equipped with a Ship Repair Yard & Drydock facility, which is the first of its kind in Oman. Control of the port was transferred to the Ministry of Transport and Communications in May 2012. The port authority is the Port of Duqm Company, S.A.O.C., who manage the port.
| Al Duqm Port & Drydock | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| Country |  Oman |
| Location | Duqm, Al Wusta Region |
| Coordinates | 19°40′7″N 57°42′0″E |
| Details | |
| Opened | 2013 |
| Operated by | Oman Drydock Company, S.A.O.C. |
| Owned by | Government of Oman |
| Type of harbor | Port and Drydock |
| Statistics | |
| Annual revenue | 1.5 bl US Dollar |
| Website http://www.omandrydock.com/ | |
Port
& Drydock
Oman Drydock Company (ODC) have run the ship repair yard since 2013; primarily for the overhaul and conversion of large commercial vessels. In 2017 ODC and Babcock International Group started Duqm Naval Dockyard (DND), focusing on the expansion of the port's capability into the support of military forces operating in the region.[1]
International access
In August 2017, Oman and the United Kingdom signed a memorandum of understanding allowing the Royal Navy access to the port facilities of Duqm.[2] The port is used as a logistics hub, supporting the UK’s operations East of Suez and has enough depth and space — including a dry dock — to accommodate the UK’s Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers.[3] The British Army also use the facility to support training operations, as was seen during Exercise Saif Sareea 3 in 2018.[4] In September 2020, an investment was made to triple the size of the UK’s facilities.[4]
In February 2018, India announced that it had secured access to the facilities at Duqm for the Indian Air Force and the Indian Navy.[2] Duqm had previously served as a port for the INS Mumbai.[2]
In March 2019, the United States managed to secure an agreement to govern access to the ports in Duqm and Salalah, which will reduce the need to send ships through the Strait of Hormuz, and provide a better access to the Gulf region for the U.S. military.[5]
See also
References
- "New Oman Duqm Naval Dockyard set for April launch". OEPPA.
- Roy, Shubhajit (February 13, 2018). "India gets access to strategic Oman port Duqm for military use, Chabahar-Gwadar in sight". Indian Express.
- "UK Secures Naval Base in Oman". The Maritime Executive. 21 February 2019.
- "Defence Secretary announces investment in strategic Omani port". Ministry of Defence. September 12, 2020.
- "With an eye on Iran, U.S. clinches strategic port deal with Oman". Reuters. 24 March 2019.