Work is progressing fast on the construction of the container terminal and other key infrastructures at the Port of Duqm in Oman and is expected to be completed by 2019, the Muscat Daily reported, citing a senior official.

 While the first phase is expected to be completed by June 2018, total construction, including the terminal and all other infrastructure, is due for completion around middle of 2019, stated Erwin Mortelmans, commercial director at Port of Duqm Company (PDC).

 Duqm port  is managed by PDC, a 50:50 joint venture between the Omani government and the Consortium Antwerp Port. Once the port starts full-fledged operation, it will have a 2.2-km-long commercial berth, a 2.2-km-long container berth, 1-km-long government berth and a break bulk berth for miscellaneous cargoes.

PDC chief executive Reggy Vermeulen said since it began early operations in March 2013, the port has received more than 500 different vessels.

Jurgen Vanhove, port operations director at PDC, said the company plans to increase the container terminal capacity to 3.5 million TEUs (twenty foot equivalent units) when the terminal starts working at full capacity.