A.P. Moller – Maersk (Maersk), in collaboration with the Port of Salalah and Oman Airports, has achieved a successful Sea-Air logistics solution via Oman for cargo transportation from Colombo, Sri Lanka, to Cairo, Egypt.
The strategic location of Oman's seaports and airports has made it an increasingly vital logistics hub, serving customers regionally and globally. Maersk's multimodal solution via Oman provides flexibility and resilience to customers' supply chains, offering a priority product that balances market demand, product safety, transit time, and cost, according to Christopher Cook, Managing Director of Maersk UAE, Oman, and Qatar.
This pilot cargo movement via the Sea-Air solution involved the transportation of retail and lifestyle cargo from Colombo to Cairo. The initial leg of the journey was conducted on a Maersk vessel from Colombo to Salalah. Upon arrival at the Port of Salalah, the cargo was offloaded and transported to Salalah Airport within a customs-bonded corridor. After undergoing security clearance at the cargo terminal in Salalah Airport, the shipment was air-freighted on a priority basis to Cairo, Egypt.
The Sea-Air solution offers numerous advantages to Maersk's customers. It can reduce transit times on traditional east-to-west trade routes by 20-40% compared to pure ocean transportation and generate cost savings of 10-20% compared to a pure air freight solution. Maersk's strong collaboration with all stakeholders involved ensures that customers receive prioritized bookings, loading and stowage, clearances, and timely airlift services. In addition to the evident time and cost savings, the strategic location of Salalah Port and Salalah Airport enables Maersk to offer various service products, including a hub solution that connects new and emerging markets, establishing Oman as a gateway to the world.
Both the Port of Salalah and Salalah Airport are well-equipped to handle a wide range of commodities, from general cargo to specialized products such as pharmaceuticals and perishable goods. This gateway also presents a valuable opportunity to support the movement of aid and relief cargo to countries that are only accessible via air connections, facilitating the distribution process.
Christopher Cook, Managing Director of Maersk UAE, Oman, and Qatar, emphasized that the Sea-Air solution deployed in this pilot movement represents just the beginning of a world of possibilities. In conjunction with their integrated logistics solutions, Maersk can provide customers with tailored logistics solutions that combine various modes of transport, storage, and fulfillment solutions, enhanced by value-added services powered by technology. This exemplifies Maersk's commitment to enhancing supply chain resilience for its customers through integrated logistics solutions.