27 Jan Unity and SIPC create the Sohar Emergency Response Organisation
Following extensive preparations, a formal contract was signed between Unity and SIPC to create the Sohar Emergency Response Organisation (SERO).
The contract was signed on the 22 January 2023 by Mr Kevan Whitehead, Managing Director of Unity Fire and Safety Services LLC and Mr Emile Hoogsteden, Chief Executive Officer of Sohar Industrial Port Company. The contract signing was undertaken under the auspices of HE Khamis bin Mohammed Al Shamakhi, Under Secretary of the Ministry of Transport, Communication and Information Technology for Transport.
SERO will provide a comprehensive emergency response organisation to all port users, landlord, tenants and merchant shipping over a 10-year period. A port side Fire Station/Emergency Response Centre, Training Ground, Fire Trucks, Hazmats and Ambulance will be provided and in the process creating around 50 new jobs, with a target of at least 94% employees from the local Omani workforce.
SERO is the first of its kind in Oman and will provide a model for all other deep water ports and multi-industry free zone operations both within Oman and the GCC Region. SERO will not only provide Emergency Response Services but will also offer added value non-emergency services to Port Tenants such as training, consultancy, inspections and maintenance.
Whitehead, MD of Unity, said: “This is a really exciting development, bringing the Port of Sohar up to a totally different level of safety and security. The vision of the Port of Sohar, partnered with the expertise of Unity has created SERO – a world class Emergency Response Organisation.”
Unity Fire and Safety Services LLC is based in Muscat in the Sultanate of Oman. Its key focus is the provision of professional fire firefighters, consultancy, training and firefighting equipment/PPE.
Unity is now the largest provider of professional private fire services within the Sultanate of Oman and a trusted partner with both International and National Oil companies, known for straight-talking, honest, ethical and realistic solutions.
Sohar Industrial Port Company (SIPC) manages, as landlord, the Port of Sohar in Northern Oman. The Port has in excess of 27 tenant companies, operating 31 sites from within the port area. Key industries clusters include hydrocarbon, metals, shipping and container, food plus energy and water production. SIPC has a 50%shareholdingg with the Port of Rotterdam.