Dutch dredging and maritime company Royal Boskalis Westminster N.V. has received a Letter of Intent to Award a contract for the development of the port of Duqm in Oman.

The contract, which has a value of EUR 480 million (USD 509.2 million), would be awarded by Special Economic Zone Authority Duqm (Sezad), under certain conditions.

The contract includes the engineering, design, procurement and construction of a bulk liquid berth terminal.

Various dredging and civil activities will be executed under the responsibility of Boskalis, including the deepening of the port basin to a depth of 18 meters, reclamation of new land, the construction of a quay wall with a length of one kilometer, a double berth jetty island and stone revetment.

Based on the current expectations, the design activities are due to commence in the coming weeks and equipment will be mobilized mid-2017.

Boskalisa said that the project is expected to be completed in 2020.

The Port of Duqm is a an existing strategic dry dock and industrial free trade zone located in the Al Wusta Region between Muscat and Salalah and has been designated as a Special Economic Zone.