BP Marine has opened two new berths at its deepwater container fuels terminal in Salalah after a “highly successful” first year’s operation which has seen it become one of the fastest growing container ports in the world.
BP says that the opening of the new berths at the Middle Eastern port, which is located at the centre of trade routes between Asia, Europe and the Americas, will enable it to respond to growing demand for increased quantities of marine bunker fuel by containerships and general cargo vessels.
The refuelling services facilities at Salalah are set to be enhanced at the end of the first quarter next year with the launch of a new berth – the fifth at the port – while a sixth berth is set to go on-line towards the end of 2007.
Since entering full service in July 2005, approximately 1,200 vessels have refuelled at Salalah, making it one of BP Marine’s busiest ports. Currently supplying an average of 50,000 tonnes of bunker fuel a month, BP Marine believes the expansion of the port could lead to that figure rising to 70,000 tonnes.