Oman- New auto gate system opens at Sohar port

(MENAFN- Muscat Daily) Muscat- As the container terminal operator at Sohar Port, Hutchison is taking its next bold step towards modernisation and full automation with the launch of its new auto gate system at Terminal C.

The terminal already features remote controlled quayside cranes capable of handling 20,000 TEU (twenty foot equivalent units) vessels.

H E Dr Ahmed Mohammed al Futaisi, Minister of Transport and Communications, officially inaugurated the new state-of-the-art facilities on Saturday.

Situated in Sohar Port, Hutchison Ports Sohar is a modern container-handling facility capable of accommodating the latest generation of mega vessels.

'Auto gate promises to make container shipments at Hutchison Ports Sohar even faster and more secure, strengthening the port's already excellent reputation as the new gateway to the Gulf,' Albert Pang, CEO of Hutchison Ports Sohar, said in a press release.

He said, 'We recently introduced an automated truck appointment system in Sohar. The introduction of auto gate will continue to reduce our already fast turnaround times for shippers and trucking companies alike.'

The auto gate system utilises a combination of smart technologies, allowing truck drivers to pass through the container terminal gates with no paper documentation and no delays. Drivers can remain inside their vehicles at all times during security checks, inspections and container movements.

The new system includes machine readable cards to store driver information, character-recognition cameras to read truck plate number, self-service kiosks for inputting shipping codes and RFID tags to further improve terminal security.

Hutchison Ports Sohar is a joint venture between Hutchison Ports, Oman government, C. Steinweg of the Netherlands, and a number of Omani investors.

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