<p data-path-to-node="3" id="p-rc_f52bb381cbda3516-510" style="font-family: &quot;Google Sans Text&quot;, sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;"><span data-path-to-node="3,0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><b data-path-to-node="3,0" data-index-in-node="0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">SALALAH</b> — In a targeted marine infrastructure intervention to dismantle mounting vessel backlogs outside the Gulf of Oman, the Port of Salalah Authority, in coordination with APM Terminals and Asyad Group, has officially completed the capital deepening, structural quay reinforcement, and navigational outfitting of its specialized southern feeder pocket</span><span data-path-to-node="3,1" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><source-footnote _nghost-ng-c3838886618="" class="ng-star-inserted" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c3838886618="" class="superscript" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></span><span data-path-to-node="3,2" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">.</span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c2836216103="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----></sources-carousel-inline></p><p data-path-to-node="4" style="font-family: &quot;Google Sans Text&quot;, sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;">The operational milestone raises the pocket's working draft from 12.5 meters to <b data-path-to-node="4" data-index-in-node="80" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">16 meters</b>, allowing the southern basin to berth modern, next-generation feeder container vessels of up to 5,000 TEUs without tidal constraints or risk of hull grounding.</p><p data-path-to-node="5" id="p-rc_f52bb381cbda3516-511" style="font-family: &quot;Google Sans Text&quot;, sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;"><span data-path-to-node="5,0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Positioned along the Arabian Sea coast outside the Strait of Hormuz chokepoint, the reinforced feeder basin serves as an open-ocean transshipment safety valve, designed specifically to absorb cascading short-sea feeder traffic and relieve persistent vessel bunching across Persian Gulf approaches</span><span data-path-to-node="5,1" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><source-footnote _nghost-ng-c3838886618="" class="ng-star-inserted" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c3838886618="" class="superscript" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></span><span data-path-to-node="5,2" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">.</span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c2836216103="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----></sources-carousel-inline></p><p data-path-to-node="7" style="font-family: &quot;Google Sans Text&quot;, sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;"><b data-path-to-node="7" data-index-in-node="0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Capital Dredging, Marine Engineering, and Berthing Upgrades</b></p><p data-path-to-node="8" style="font-family: &quot;Google Sans Text&quot;, sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;">The southern feeder pocket modernization program encompassed round-the-clock hydrographic dredging alongside significant civil reinforcements along the existing quay structure:</p><ul data-path-to-node="9" style="padding-inline-start: 32px; font-family: &quot;Google Sans Text&quot;, sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;"><li style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><p data-path-to-node="9,0,0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><b data-path-to-node="9,0,0" data-index-in-node="0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">16-Meter Navigational Dredging:</b> Removal of over 1.8 million cubic meters of marine seabed and hard limestone strata across the southern pocket basin and turning basin apron, creating uniform deep-water clearance for high-capacity short-sea vessels.</p></li><li style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><p data-path-to-node="9,1,0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><b data-path-to-node="9,1,0" data-index-in-node="0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Quay-Wall Load Bearing and Monopile Anchoring:</b> Heavy-duty underwater quay-wall retrofitting, including high-tensile steel tieback anchoring and concrete monopile reinforcements, to absorb the hydrodynamic displacement forces of larger, fully laden feeder hulls.</p></li><li style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><p data-path-to-node="9,2,0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><b data-path-to-node="9,2,0" data-index-in-node="0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Super-High-Absorption Marine Fendering:</b> Installation of heavy cone fendering systems and high-capacity T-head bollards rated for extreme mooring tensions during seasonal monsoonal swells (Khareef).</p></li><li style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><p data-path-to-node="9,3,0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><b data-path-to-node="9,3,0" data-index-in-node="0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Quayside Material Handling Fleet:</b> Deployment of four high-speed mobile harbor cranes alongside upgraded rail-mounted gantry systems, capable of tandem-lifting container spreads and sustaining net handling velocities of 32 moves per hour per crane.</p></li></ul><p data-path-to-node="14" style="font-family: &quot;Google Sans Text&quot;, sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;"><b data-path-to-node="14" data-index-in-node="0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Decompressing Inter-Gulf Maritime Networks &amp; South Asian Loops</b></p><p data-path-to-node="15" id="p-rc_f52bb381cbda3516-518" style="font-family: &quot;Google Sans Text&quot;, sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;"><span data-path-to-node="15,0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">The deepening of the southern feeder basin addresses chronic logistical friction across the Arabian Sea arc</span><span data-path-to-node="15,1" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><source-footnote _nghost-ng-c3838886618="" class="ng-star-inserted" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c3838886618="" class="superscript" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></span><span data-path-to-node="15,2" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">. As mainline container alliances adjust long-haul strings to bypass volatile regional bottlenecks, mega-carriers have increasingly relied on pure transshipment relay models, dropping large container blocks at Salalah</span><span data-path-to-node="15,3" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><source-footnote _nghost-ng-c3838886618="" class="ng-star-inserted" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c3838886618="" class="superscript" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></span><span data-path-to-node="15,4" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">.</span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c2836216103="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----></sources-carousel-inline></p><p data-path-to-node="16" id="p-rc_f52bb381cbda3516-519" style="font-family: &quot;Google Sans Text&quot;, sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;"><span data-path-to-node="16,0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">However, intermediate feeder networks linking Oman to outports in the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Pakistan, and Western India historically faced severe berthing congestion at primary deep-water quays, where mega-vessels naturally received operational priority</span><span data-path-to-node="16,1" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><source-footnote _nghost-ng-c3838886618="" class="ng-star-inserted" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c3838886618="" class="superscript" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></span><span data-path-to-node="16,2" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">.</span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c2836216103="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----></sources-carousel-inline></p><ol start="1" data-path-to-node="17" style="padding-inline-start: 32px; font-family: &quot;Google Sans Text&quot;, sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;"><li style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><p data-path-to-node="17,0,0" id="p-rc_f52bb381cbda3516-520" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><span data-path-to-node="17,0,0,0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><b data-path-to-node="17,0,0,0" data-index-in-node="0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Eliminating Berth Allocation Competition:</b> By dedicating a deep-draft 16-meter pocket exclusively to feeder carriers, coastal operators no longer compete for berthing windows against 20,000+ TEU Megamax container ships on the main quay</span><span data-path-to-node="17,0,0,1" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><source-footnote _nghost-ng-c3838886618="" class="ng-star-inserted" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c3838886618="" class="superscript" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></span><span data-path-to-node="17,0,0,2" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">.</span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c2836216103="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----></sources-carousel-inline></p></li><li style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><p data-path-to-node="17,1,0" id="p-rc_f52bb381cbda3516-521" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><span data-path-to-node="17,1,0,0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><b data-path-to-node="17,1,0,0" data-index-in-node="0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Synchronized Feeder-Mainline Quayside Shuttles:</b> Offloaded cargo from mainline berths is transported directly to the southern feeder pocket via automated terminal tractor-trailers, allowing outbound regional feeder vessels to load and depart within an 18-hour operating envelope</span><span data-path-to-node="17,1,0,1" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><source-footnote _nghost-ng-c3838886618="" class="ng-star-inserted" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c3838886618="" class="superscript" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></span><span data-path-to-node="17,1,0,2" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">.</span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c2836216103="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----></sources-carousel-inline></p></li><li style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><p data-path-to-node="17,2,0" id="p-rc_f52bb381cbda3516-522" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><span data-path-to-node="17,2,0,0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><b data-path-to-node="17,2,0,0" data-index-in-node="0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Buffer for South Asian Manufacturing Chains:</b> Shippers moving manufacturing components, automotive spares, and apparel between Western Indian ports (Nhava Sheva, Mundra, Cochin) and upper Gulf destinations gain reliable weekly feeder connections that bypass congestion delays at secondary transshipment gateways</span><span data-path-to-node="17,2,0,1" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><source-footnote _nghost-ng-c3838886618="" class="ng-star-inserted" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c3838886618="" class="superscript" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></span><span data-path-to-node="17,2,0,2" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">.</span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c2836216103="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----></sources-carousel-inline></p></li></ol><p data-path-to-node="19" style="font-family: &quot;Google Sans Text&quot;, sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;"><b data-path-to-node="19" data-index-in-node="0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Institutional Perspectives</b></p><p data-path-to-node="20" id="p-rc_f52bb381cbda3516-523" style="font-family: &quot;Google Sans Text&quot;, sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;"><span data-path-to-node="20,0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Port of Salalah executive leadership emphasized that optimizing short-sea feeder margins is essential to supporting the broader transshipment grid across the Indian Ocean</span><span data-path-to-node="20,1" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><source-footnote _nghost-ng-c3838886618="" class="ng-star-inserted" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c3838886618="" class="superscript" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></span><span data-path-to-node="20,2" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">:</span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c2836216103="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----></sources-carousel-inline></p><p data-path-to-node="21" id="p-rc_f52bb381cbda3516-524" style="font-family: &quot;Google Sans Text&quot;, sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;"><span data-path-to-node="21,0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">"A transshipment hub is only as efficient as its feeder connectivity</span><span data-path-to-node="21,1" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><source-footnote _nghost-ng-c3838886618="" class="ng-star-inserted" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c3838886618="" class="superscript" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></span><span data-path-to-node="21,2" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">. Deepening our southern feeder pocket to 16 meters ensures that high-capacity regional vessels can dock without delay, cross-load cargo smoothly, and turnaround rapidly</span><span data-path-to-node="21,3" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><source-footnote _nghost-ng-c3838886618="" class="ng-star-inserted" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c3838886618="" class="superscript" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></span><span data-path-to-node="21,4" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">. By taking feeder vessels out of the outer-anchorage queue and providing dedicated deep-draft infrastructure, Salalah provides global shipping lines with the operational resilience, cost efficiency, and predictability required to maintain fluid regional trade lines</span><span data-path-to-node="21,5" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><source-footnote _nghost-ng-c3838886618="" class="ng-star-inserted" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c3838886618="" class="superscript" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></span><span data-path-to-node="21,6" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">."</span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c2836216103="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----></sources-carousel-inline></p><p data-path-to-node="22" id="p-rc_f52bb381cbda3516-525" style="font-family: &quot;Google Sans Text&quot;, sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;"><span data-path-to-node="22,0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Port operations confirmed that commercial operations in the deepened southern pocket are active, with regional feeder strings operated by regional short-sea carriers and global feeder subsidiaries already phasing the upgraded berths into their regular weekly rotations</span><span data-path-to-node="22,1" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><source-footnote _nghost-ng-c3838886618="" class="ng-star-inserted" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c3838886618="" class="superscript" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></span><span data-path-to-node="22,2" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">.</span></p>