Here we interview Oman country manager Tejas Parmar who shares some noteworthy features of the country, the capabilities of Inchcape’s local operation and where it aims to grow, what Inchcape can offer that others can’t, some current projects showcasing their expertise, plus a little about himself and his team of expats and locals.
The Sultanate of Oman enjoys an excellent strategic position on the southeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula, with coastlines along the Arabian Sea, the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf. “The country’s proximity to major east-west shipping lanes and the Strait of Hormuz, which is a vital chokepoint in oil transport, makes it a crucial player in global maritime trade. Approximately 20% of the world’s petroleum passes through this narrow waterway,” Tejas says.
“Without a doubt, the country’s busiest trade centres around the oil and gas industry, which forms the backbone of the economy and lion’s share of Oman’s export revenue. As one of the largest crude producers in the Middle East it is fortunate to have substantial oil reserves. Natural gas is both exported and used domestically for energy and industrial purposes. There’s also a well-developed petrochemicals sector, creating additional value and export products.”
Eyes on diversification
The government is, meanwhile, working steadily to diversify the economy and reduce reliance on hydrocarbons. “Development efforts aligned with its Vision 2040 plan embrace sectors such as fisheries, tourism, manufacturing and logistics. They’re also exploring renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power, to ensure long-term energy sustainability. In addition, a number of Special Economic Zones (SEZs), including that at Duqm, are designed to attract foreign investment with incentives such as tax breaks and streamlined regulations,” Tejas adds.
In terms of maritime infrastructure, the Port of Salalah is one of the largest and busiest ports in the Gulf region and a major liner transhipment hub thanks to its deep-water capacity and modern facilities. “Duqm is also emerging as a significant industrial and commercial gateway, providing a multimodal logistics hub offering shipping services, a fully operational airport and comprehensive road transport. With its deep draft and long quays, it is poised to become one of the largest Middle East ports in the next few years.”
Alongside the smaller Port of Mina Al Fahal (Crude Oil Export), Port Sultan Qaboos in the capital, Muscat, is a key entry point for goods and a centre for cruise tourism. Elsewhere, the port of Qalhat is Oman’s major LNG handling facility with two large loading and discharging berths able to accommodate gas tankers up to 315 meters in length.
Another major piece of infrastructure is world-class repair yard Asyad Drydock (formerly Oman Drydock Co) in Duqm, which has been in operation since 2011. The yard stretches over 1,277,000 square meters of land and 1,139,000 square meters of sea surface, with 2,800 metres of quays, water depth of 9-10 metres, 14 sets of jib cranes, two graving docks and a dedicated slop and sludge treatment facility. It can handle vessels of all types up to 600,000 dwt.
Duqm is also a great option for layup, Tejas says, offering safe, secure (ISPS Level 1) and competitive facilities both in its outer anchorage and sheltered inner anchorage. “There is plenty berth space available for both hot and cold layups with fast mobilisation for regional activity, including 24/7 pilotage, mooring and unmooring. We can take care of drydocking at Asyad if required and all the marine necessities such as bunkering, fresh water, removal of sewage water and oily waste.”
Political stability
Oman is known for its stable and relatively peaceful political environment, making it a safe destination for tourists and business investment. “The Omanis maintain a policy of neutrality and good relations with neighbouring states, contributing to its role as a mediator in regional conflicts. These features make it a pivotal player in regional and global affairs, enhancing its draw for strategic investments. The Omanis themselves are delightful people famous for their hospitality. They extend a warm welcome to visitors, reinforcing its appeal as a tourism destination.”
Moreover, Oman boasts numerous historical sites, including forts, castles and ancient trade routes. “It’s a place of stunning natural beauty from spectacular mountain ranges and desert plains to pristine beaches and lush green wadis. Activities such as hiking, diving, dune bashing and game fishing are popular and bring in adventure-hunters from both east and west,” Tejas says.
Inchcape has been present in Oman for 23 years with headquarters in Muscat and branch offices in Sohar, Salalah, Duqm and Khasab. “To give some stats, we handle approximately 2,000 port calls annually, with the largest volume at Salalah followed by Sohar, Duqm, Muscat and Sur. In terms of crew changes, we handle crew changes averaging 500 seafarers per month, primarily for Maersk Line in Salalah. We also service a lot of military vessels in Duqm and Muscat, and an increasing number in Salalah due to the Red Sea situation and anti-piracy efforts in the Indian Ocean.”
Focused on finding solutions
In terms of what Inchcape can offer that others can’t, Tejas said: “We support customers as a one-stop shop for the full range of services covering all marine and port agency requirements (see end of story for a comprehensive list) with a young and talented team of proven experts trained to understand customers’ unique requirements.”
Total staff strength is 44, comprising 12 expats from both India and Sri Lanka and 32 local Omanis, in full compliance with local employment regulations. “The major benefit for customers of working with us end-to-end is they avoid a fragmented supply chain working with different agents and suppliers in different ports; whereas we offer the same service excellence across all our stations. Our 24/7 operations can help reduce overall costs through efficient coordination of local vendors and supporting services. In addition, our qualified procedures and accredited security planning focus on eliminating risk and costly errors in custody transfer of crew, cash, spares and documents,” Tejas adds.
Oman also boasts an in-house survey and inspection team led by Abhir Porobo that can mitigate risk by carrying out everything from hull and machinery and marine warranty surveys to bunker-quantity and draft surveys and handling cargo damage claims. “We represent all stakeholders, including P&I clubs, Llyod’s Agency, and CESAM. No job is too small or too large,” Tejas says.
Keeping an eagle eye on third parties
Inchcape also provides an extra layer of safeguarding as Husbandry and Owner’s Protective Agent, especially in the event of incidents or disputes. “Examples include port call reports detailing protective actions taken, updates on port restrictions and local rules and regulations, full PDA checking and vetting against tariff and negotiated discounts, safety of funds through a single point of remittance bank account for payment of third parties, identification of solutions to avoid/reduce cost and time to ensure faster port turnaround, as well as physical monitoring and supervision of cargo operations, attending marine surveys by third parties and comprehensive verification of SOF – just to name a few!”
Promoting Asyad
Handling agency support and spare-parts logistics for vessels calling Asyad Dry Dock is becoming an increasingly important revenue stream. “With similar infrastructure to Dubai Drydock the yard offers both a cost advantage and an excellent location to avoid transiting the Strait of Hormuz. Its proximity to global shipping routes also means customers can reduce deviation time. They are responsible operators aligned to global standards on QHSSE and anti-corruption programs. There is a friendly rivalry with Dubai but we’re confident there’s plenty business for everyone to thrive,” says Tejas.
Here Daniel Vikstrom, Inchcape’s Regional CEO for EMEA, chips in saying he has had tremendous feedback from Inchcape customers using Inchcape Duqm for calls at Asyad and that “the knowledge of Tejas’s team is second to none”.
Other current projects that demonstrate the team’s go-to experience include providing domestic shipping services for OQ refineries in Oman; comprehensive logistics support enhancing operational efficiency for Oman Oil Marketing Co; handling the entire husbandry support for Maersk Line vessels at Salalah and Sohar; providing full agency and marine claims support for Oman Flour Mills; handling offshore agency support activities for CPP & Fugro at Duqm Ras Markaz; and managing import and export shipments for Vale Oman at Sohar. “This isn’t an exhaustive rundown but gives an idea of the broad scope of projects we work on for big-ticket customers who trust us to get the job done,” says Tejas.
Expansion opportunities
Inchcape’s aim is to grow in tandem with Oman’s own economic diversification ambitions. “Our goal is to be 100 plus staff by 2030, especially as Duqm comes to the fore. In terms of tourism, we supported Inchcape’s Global Head of Cruise & Superyachts, Grant Holmes, in delivering the Oman Sustainable Cruise Tourism Strategy last year. That following a tender put out by the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, Oman for a 10 year road map Cruise Tourism Development and we’re now guiding them in the Implementation Strategy with a focus on destination development and sustainability.”
Tejas is too modest to point out that throughout 2023, the cruise side of the business increased by 40% year on year. “The sky’s the limit for Inchcape Oman in the next few years,” Holmes interjects.
Other areas slated for expansion include supplying spare parts and machinery for marine and plant industries, working alongside sister company ISS Machinery Services. “Operating with three core divisions – Marine Machinery, Plant Machinery and Inspection and Maintenance – we offer an extensive range of genuine spare parts, machinery and equipment supported by all Japanese, South Korean and Chinese manufacturers,” says Tejas.
In the project logistics space, his team are collaborating with strategic partner ISS Palumbo to maximise opportunities across many different segments. “We offer integrated logistics and freight forwarding, port logistics and a variety of high-quality consultancy and specialist services at an advantageous price.”
‘A great place to live’
Tejas has been in Oman since 2007, his first 10 years with another port agency before joining Inchcape. Originally from Gujarat, he took to Oman like a duck to water. “The main upside is the local people who are unreservedly humble and friendly. It’s a great place to live and there are loads of options for families. The varied terrain means there’s something for everyone. We’re never bored, and I love the climate even though in summer it gets pretty hot and sticky. Thank goodness for air con!”
Following a stint back in India setting up Inchcape’s Centre of Cruise Excellence in Mumbai reporting to Grant Holmes, Tejas became country chief in February 2023. “Here in Muscat I’m responsible for the full country P&L, winning customers and pulling in the revenue. And we’re fully plugged into Inchcape’s global network whenever we need specialist support, for example, on legal and commercial issues.”
Tejas’s stalwart Number Two is Government Relations and Operations Manager Issa Hamad Al-Sulaimi, who works alongside him in Muscat. “Issa’s been with Inchcape since 2018. Then we have Vinesh Pillai who is our Location Head for Sohar and Salalah and my Number Four is a talented young man, Madawa Ranaweera, who is Location Head at Duqm. Altogether we are 10 expats and 34 local employees,” Tejas adds.
‘No day is alike’
Asked what he loves about his job, he gets right to the point. “I’ve been in shipping for two decades and it really is in my blood. I relish the day-to-day challenges and getting great feedback from satisfied clients. As a leader it’s also vital to maintain great team spirit, and I do that as best I can by letting each employee work independently as far as possible.” He only steps in when asked for support – that’s when he dons his troubleshooting hat to help figure out the best solution on the hoof.
“Problems range from customs issues and cargo discrepancies to critical distress calls where you have to swing into action fast, getting approvals from local authorities, even organizing medical evacuations from a vessel by helicopter or fast boat. The ability to carry out repairs, in the case of engine failure, for example, while also getting medical attention for crew injuries is a good combination.”
Tejas adds that the benefit of having been in situ for quite some time is that he and his team know their way around the local support structure. “We know where to push the button and who to approach at the right time. That’s invaluable for sorting things out as fast as we can. All in all it’s an exciting time,” he concludes.
INCHCAPE OMAN MARINE SOLUTIONS
- Global port agency services on behalf of owners, charterers & terminals
- Global hub & marine outsourcing solutions for fleet owners & operators
- Offshore solutions
- Launches, crew & supply vessel operators
- Survey and Inspection and P&I
- Traditional husbandry services, crew welfare & crew travel
- Ships maintenance, spares & dry-docking
- Navigation licenses / other applicable licenses
- Temporary importation of vessels
- Customs and immigration clearances
- Recommendation on visa and gate passes and application for same
- Complete crew and personnel logistics
- Procurement of equipment and project related material
- Logistics, import and warehousing of spares, equipment & project cargo
- Worldwide Freight Forwarding and Logistics for Project material
- Ship Chandelling
- Bunker support