Port
of Duqm Receives One of World’s Largest Ro-Ro Ships

Duqm,
3 Sep 2026 (ONA) — The Port of Duqm received one of the world’s largest
Roll-on/Roll-off (Ro-Ro) ships, owned by BYD, marking the first arrival of a
vessel belonging to the company to the Sultanate of Oman, arriving from the
People’s Republic of China. This reflects the port’s growing capabilities in
handling large-scale vehicle shipments and enhances its role as a logistical
platform connecting Asian markets with the Omani market and the markets of the GCC.

The
carrying capacity of the ship stands at approximately 9,200 vehicles. During
its voyage to the Port of Duqm, it carried 1,219 vehicles designated for GCC
markets, where the entire shipment will be unloaded at the port, allocating
more than 200 vehicles for the Omani market, while the remaining vehicles will
be distributed across a number of Gulf markets, including Kuwait and Qatar.

The
reception of this vessel underscores the Port of Duqm’s readiness to receive
large-capacity Ro-Ro ships and its ability to handle vehicle shipments
efficiently, benefiting from its advanced infrastructure and operational and logistical
capabilities, as its annual handling capacity for vehicles reaches about
300,000 vehicles.

The
port features a 2.2-kilometer commercial berth with a draft reaching up to 18
meters alongside the berth, qualifying it to receive large commercial ships and
handle multiple types of cargo, alongside providing specialized vehicle
handling services within Ro-Ro operations.

Reggy
Vermeulen, CEO of the Port of Duqm, said that the arrival of the first vessel
belonging to BYD at the Port of Duqm represents an important milestone in the
development of vehicle handling operations, reflecting growing confidence in
the port’s capabilities and its role in regional trade.

He
added that the port’s strategic location on the Arabian Sea and outside the
Strait of Hormuz, alongside its infrastructure and logistical capabilities,
enhances its competitiveness as a gateway connecting Asian markets to the
Sultanate of Oman and GCC countries, noting the existence of growing
opportunities to attract more trade lines and serve international companies
seeking more efficient access to regional markets.

He
affirmed that the Port of Duqm will continue developing its capabilities and
building strategic partnerships, thereby enhancing its role in supporting trade
and investment movement, and contributing to consolidating the Sultanate of
Oman’s position as a regional hub for trade and logistics services.

The
operation of unloading vehicles at the Port of Duqm and subsequently
distributing them to several Gulf markets highlights the port’s importance in
supporting regional supply chains through an integrated system combining
maritime transport, port infrastructure, and overland transport and
distribution networks.

Furthermore,
the Port of Duqm’s strategic location on the Arabian Sea and outside the Strait
of Hormuz enhances its ability to serve international trade lines and access
markets in the Indian Subcontinent, Asia, Africa, and GCC countries, thereby
supporting the competitiveness of the transport and logistics sector in the
Sultanate of Oman.

This
development comes within the context of efforts aimed at enhancing logistical
connectivity and diversifying the national economy in line with the objectives
of Oman Vision 2040, as well as consolidating the Sultanate of Oman’s position
as a regional hub for trade and logistics services and an attractive
destination for investments.

—Ends/AG