Salalah (Oman). Despite the challenging situation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Port of Salalah (Oman) finished 2020 with record breaking container volume of 4.34 million TEUs (twenty-foot-equivalent units) and thereby laying a solid foundation for undisrupted operations also in 2021.

Year 2020 had an unprecedented global impact on supply chain efficiencies with all players facing existential challenges which required fast, flexible, proactive and a very collaborative approach with all stakeholders for survival. The spectacular results accomplished by the port, in a rather difficult environment, have been attributed to the commitment and dedication displayed by the staff at every level across the organisation and a strong commitment of its customers and business partners.

Port of Salalah also highlighted the  collaboration and remarkable efforts of various government agencies like ROP, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Transport and Information Technology  and ASYAD to name a few.Above all, the decisive and visionaryleadership of His Majesty and the various ministries and councils have been instrumental in ensuring that the impact of COVID 19 is mitigated significantly in Oman which has also allowed our staff to function effectively through the crises.

Mark Hardiman, CEO of Port of Salalah stated “While Year 2020 has undoubtedly been one of the most challenging years the world has witnessed, it was a privilege to lead a team that went above and beyond to ensure that our customers supply chain were functional and operational during these uncertain times and also mitigated any adverse impact to the local economy to the maximum extent possible. The team also ensured that vital supplies moved in and out of the country swiftly and seamlessly”.

Throughout 2020, the staff displayed extreme caution and discipline in following the safety protocols as well as COVID precautions as prescribed from time to time. This not only helped minimise the infections amongst the port staff but also ensured that the terminal operations continued in an undisrupted manner.

“This is an impressive accomplishment considering the team has also achieved a new record in productivity on top of the record volume”, shares Scott Selman, Port of Salalah Chief Operating Officer.

According to Scott, these milestones were possible thanks to the Way of Working (WoW) standards adopted by the Port of Salalah together with other facilities operated by APM Terminals. The adoption and implementation of WoW and LEAN methodology has improved performance and increased efficiency. “This helps us create a joint sense of ownership of our business across our team, from the frontline staff to senior management”, explains Scott, “All team members are involved in training and problem solving, with continuous improvement as our joint responsibility.”

About Port of Salalah

The Port continues to actively contribute to Oman’s 2040 vision and objectives and support Oman’s economic diversification strategy.

Strategically located on the trade crossroads between Asia and Europe, and serving the markets of East Africa, the Red Sea, the Indian Subcontinent and the Arabian Gulf – the Port of Salalah is operated by APM Terminals as part of the APM Terminals global terminal network.  The port operates both a container terminal and a general cargo terminal.