Duqm port signs deal with United Engineering

Muscat: A 25-year land lease agreement for using a six hectare plot was signed by United Engineering Services (UES) with Port of Duqm Company (PDC).
One of the remarkable projects UES is bringing to the Port of Duqm is the wet testing of three newly-built and state-of-art Seafloor Production Tools from Nautilus Minerals, a Canada registered company who has developed the equipment to be used for off shore deep sea mining activities, said a press statement released by the Ministry of Transport and Communications.
Nautilus is the first company to commercially explore the seafloor for seafloor massive sulphide (SMS) systems, a potential source of high grade copper, gold, zinc and silver. Nautilus is developing a production system using existing technologies adapted from the offshore oil and gas industry, dredging and mining industries to enable the extraction of these high grade SMS systems on a commercial scale.
For Port of Duqm, the agreement is very important as UES will bring substantial amount of expertise and services in a numerous fields which can help also other tenants in the port and the wider Duqm area. The plot is strategically positioned in the heart of the port and has close proximity to the port’s logistical area, the dry dock and the commercial quay.
“Port of Duqm is proud to support the MB Group as one of the major private investors in Duqm. Furthermore, this project is going on a short term to support the development of cutting edge technology and on the long-term UES will be a major player in supporting the port of Duqm and its stakeholders with the state of the art technology and services,” said ReggyVermeulen, chief executive officer of Port of Duqm.
UES, a wholly-owned subsidiary of MB Holding Company, has been a pillar of Oman’s engineering services for over three decades catering to the fields of oil and gas andpower generation and water. Recognised for health, safety and environment, its quality products and on-time delivery, UES has grown from strength since its inception in 1979. Today, UES is an international company with multiple facilities in Oman, the United Kingdom and Malaysia with more facilities expected to be setup internationally in the near future. In addition to catering to the fields of oil and gas and power generation and water, UES has successfully integrated into the fields of mining, marine and defence. UES has operations in over 22 countries worldwide and over 6000 employees. UES is strategically placed and with the support provided by its parent company MB, has taken advantage of and has access to markets all over the world.
“We are proud to be part of the continuous development of Duqm port. Our association with the port of Duqm will provide us the platform to develop cutting edge technology for the maritime, oil & gas sector in Oman,” noted Neville Storey, chief executive officer of United Engineering.
Duqm port lies officially under the management of Port of Duqm Company, a 50:50 joint venture between the Omani Government and the Consortium Antwerp Port (CAP).
PDC has three major roles in Duqm, first the management and the terminal operation of the port itself. Secondly, the management of all logistic zone in the direct vicinity of the port.PDC is also financing, developing, managing and marketing 2,000hactres of industrial and petrochemical zone. These zones enjoy an optimal integration with the Port of Duqm.