Port of Salalah progresses with $300 million expansion

As part of its $300 million container terminal upgrade and expansion project, the Port of Salalah received the first four of 10 new ZPMC ship-to-shore cranes.

Strategically located on the major East-West Shipping Lane, the Port of Salalah is viewed as one of the region’s best-located ports for access to the Middle East, Indian Subcontinent and East Africa.  

The new fully electric cranes are among the largest equipment of their kind in the world and set new standards in terms of size and efficiency, according to the port. With a 75 meter outreach, they can handle vessels 26 containers deep. A lifting height of 58 meters above the rail and 77 meters total hoist height (including below rail) and a rated capacity under spreader of 65 tonnes mean they are capable of serving the largest ultra large container vessels currently in operation.  

A further six cranes are due for arrival in the second quarter of this year. Replacing four lower specification cranes, a total of 10 new cranes will increase the number of ship-to-shore cranes at the terminal to 27. 

The first new cranes are planned to be operational by March this year, quickly followed by six further cranes and RTGs in the third quarter.

The upgrade is being implemented by APM Terminals Project Execution together with APM Terminals Asset Engineering and APM Terminals Crane & Engineering Services.

It includes upgrades to all six existing berths and expansion of the yard. In addition to the new ship-to-shore cranes, planned new equipment includes 12 electric rubber tyred gantry (RTG) cranes, two reach stackers, three electric empty container handlers and 30 trucks and trailers. 

Once the project is completed in the first quarter of 2025, the annual capacity at the terminal will increase from 5 million to 6 million TEU.  With this increased capacity the Port of Salalah wants to be a key hub for the region. 

The Port of Salalah is responsible for supporting civil and IT infrastructure, including building a new access road, and a new power distribution substation. This will support the terminal’s ambitious decarbonization goals, through the switch to hybrid and battery electric container handling equipment.

APM Terminals has made an industry-leading global commitment to achieve net zero emissions by 2040.