Hutchison Ports Sohar, a modern container-handling facility capable of accommodating the latest generation of mega-vessels, currently handles 12 weekly sailings connecting Sohar to 31 key ports across the world, says CEO Anacin Kum. Excerpts from an interview

Give us a brief on Hutchison Ports and its operations in Sohar?

Hutchison Ports Sohar is a joint-venture between Hutchison Ports, the Government of the Sultanate of Oman and number of well-established Omani investors. Hutchison Ports Sohar is a modern container-handling facility capable of accommodating the latest generation of mega-vessels with its eleven Quay Cranes out of which four are remote controlled super post-Panamax quay cranes operated from the state-of-the-art Remote Operations Centre. It is situated in the Port of Sohar, outside the Straits of Hormuz in the Gulf of Oman, approximately 200km from Muscat and 160 km from Dubai.

Hutchison Ports Sohar is a member of Hutchison Ports, the port and related services division of CK Hutchison Holdings Limited (CK Hutchison). Hutchison Ports is the world’s leading port investor, developer and operator with a network of port operations in 52 ports spanning 27 countries throughout Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe, the Americas and Australasia. Over the years, Hutchison Ports has expanded into other logistics and transportation-related businesses, including cruise ship terminals, airport operations, distribution centres, rail services and ship repair facilities.

Our strategic location saves carriers the higher insurance premiums applied to shipping inside Gulf waters, thereby reducing overall freight costs. With total quay length of 970 meters and a total land area of 68 hectares, the terminal boasts of guaranteed berth window with 100 per cent on-dock facility, storage availability at competitive tariffs and real-time EDI transmission to shipping lines.

Please tell us about your terminal facilities and services…

With an annual handling capacity of 1.6 million TEU (twenty-foot equivalent unit), the terminal offers global carriers a safe and efficient transshipment alternative to other ports in the region.

We continuously strive to enhance the services to ensure ease of business for our customers. We have adopted Hutchison Ports’ award-winning Next Generation Terminal Management System (nGen) to ensure the highest level of efficiency.

nGen allows us to streamline operations, while an electronic data interchange facilitates communication with business partners, significantly reducing the need to produce paper documentation. To ensure live updates to the nGen platform, we have deployed a Wi-Fi umbrella across the yard, quay and gatehouse. The umbrella is a system of wireless terminals, including handheld terminals at the quay and gatehouse, vehicle mounted terminals on yard cranes, and vehicle mounted pagers on yard trucks.

Furthermore, we have installed a comprehensive CCTV system to monitor terminal operations and enhance resource allocation and management during vessel operations from the Operations Control Centre.

In addition to the above is our Radio Data System nTRACS – it encompasses a wide-variety of features that enable operators to optimize work efficiency to perform container inspection and movement confirmations.

In our commitment to continuously improve business processes and enhance electronic information services, we will launch a mobile app ‘ubi’ later this year. It is an online e-tracking service which updates vessel and gate schedules and tracks container shipments. Shipment tracking will allow port users to plan movements for exports and imports well in advance of a vessel’s arrival. Once ‘ubi’ is ready, our existing Truck Appointment System (TAS) will also be integrated into it. TAS is a mobile app available on both iOS and Android systems which allows the truckers to schedule collection and delivery of cargo in advance of their arrival and upon arrival, get in hassle-free through the auto gates with no paper documentation and no delays.

Safety and security of the personnel’s and cargo is at the heart of Hutchison Ports Sohar. Hence, in 2018, we inaugurated the state-of-the-art Security Control Centre with a video wall of 210 camera screens showing the views from 12 CCTV across the terminal. It is the first of its kind in the maritime terminal business in Oman. This video wall technology helps the security centre personnel to monitor terminal activity round the clock and is equipped with an emergency response alert system that allows for instantaneous notification of the Royal Oman Police and Port of Sohar in case of any incident.

Can you talk about some of the latest developments and milestone achievements?

Our operational efficiency and productivity in the last 5 years were remarkable with substantially increased GCR, compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 26 per cent and 35 per cent on total throughput and reefer containers respectively with the external truck turn around time maintained to less than 30 minutes. Round the clock efforts of our talented team enabled us to achieve an average increase of Vessel Operating Rate (VOR) by 40 per cent and the Gross Crane Rate (GCR) of average 38 moves per hour on one of the vessels handled at the terminal in late March this year with the highest GCR touching 52 moves per hour which is amongst the highest in the region.

We have purchased two new remote-controlled super post-Panamax quay cranes and eight new automated rubber-tyred gantry cranes from Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industry Co. Ltd. (ZPMC). These cranes will be remotely operated from an operations centre, further enhancing the safety and efficiency of operations. Upon delivery of these cranes in fourth quarter of 2019, the annual capacity of Terminal C will rise to 1.8 million TEU. I’m confident that these investments will add further weight to Hutchison Ports Sohar’s standing among the world’s leading ports.

Apart from expanding our container handling capabilities to cater to the world’s largest container ships, we recognize the importance of keeping close to our customers from shipping lines, shipping and logistics agents, right up-to the end-users. In recently held interactive end-user workshops we joined hands with the likes of Oman Customs and Ministry of Agriculture & Fisheries to inform and increase the know-how of the customers about the ease of business with our terminal.

Logistics is one of the vital sectors identified by the government as part of its economic diversification strategy. How is your vision aligning with the Government of Oman’s Logistics Strategy?

As an integral component of Sohar Port and Freezone, we are committed to help realise the Oman Vision 2040 through our enhanced efficiency and continuous investments in the state-of-the art automated equipment’s and technologically advanced systems. From vehicles and machinery to perishables and consumer goods, Hutchison Ports Sohar is playing a role in bringing the world to the residents of the Sultanate with a growing number of direct calls. Currently, we are handling 12 weekly sailings connecting Sohar to the Middle East, China, South East Asia, United States, Indian Subcontinent, etc.

Can you talk about your initiatives for providing training and creating jobs for the national workforce?

Beyond supporting trade, we are also committed to the Omanisation of our workforce. Our Human Resource team is on constant look out for local talents. Our young local workforce is trained to the highest industry standard and are provided with career advancement and self-development opportunities. Regular internal trainings like problem solving, leadership development with industry experts and health and safety courses with internal trainers are arranged. We’re a part of a global group, hence, allowing our managerial employees to visit, experience and learn new techniques from other business units in different parts of the world is a common practice.

As part of our CSR initiatives, we conduct familiarization programmes for the college student to get them acquainted with the container business. These programmes include 1-day terminal visit to 3 months internships and are designed to help students get clarity on which part of the logistics business lies their interest and the direction they can choose post college. Some of these interns are also absorbed within the team.

Over the past years, we have been sponsoring Directorate General of Education’s initiative to honor the high scoring students from across the schools in Sohar. This initiative motivates the students to better themselves in the field of education, it serves as an important pointer that we are here to support their growth.