Sohar port unveils new truck appointment system

Muscat: Oman International Container Terminal (OICT) has officially unveiled its eagerly anticipated truck appointment system (TAS) at the Sohar Industrial Port Company.
Launched in the presence of Dr Ahmed Mohammed Salem Al Futaisi, Minister of Transport and Communication in Oman on Thursday, TAS promises to revolutionise logistics industries and supply chains throughout Oman, according to Albert Pang, Chief Executive Officer at OICT.
“TAS includes new roads and dedicated truck lanes and brings us a step closer to making the entire logistics system more efficient in terms of our own operations and our customers’ supply chains in Oman,” said Pang.
TAS will allow truck drivers to schedule collection and delivery of cargo at the container terminal in advance of their arrival through a mobile app, a dedicated website, or an interactive voice response number.
Meanwhile, the system will not only allow Omani logistics companies to view peak periods and schedule their trips to the port accordingly, creating cost savings through productivity gains, it will enable OICT to better plan and allocate resources in the real-time.
“We continue to expand our container handling capabilities as part of our commitment to cater to the world’s largest container ships. At the same time, we recognise the importance of facilitating smoother land transportation. The TAS system will enable us to do just that,” said Pang.
The launch of the new system follows total investments made by OICT in the expansion of infrastructure at Sohar of over $184 million, which are part of its long-term vision.
“We remain committed to building a modern container terminal that contributes to the overall efficiency of the port at Sohar. Part of this will be realised through reduced wait-times for drivers through TAS. We also expect to be able to identify trends and potential bottlenecks before they arise and take appropriate action,” said Pang.
TAS will be available for use immediately and will serve logistics companies linking up with some of the world’s biggest shipping companies, including the United Arab Shipping Company, CMA CGM and APL, which operate out of OICT.