Seven firms have bid for the contract seeking to appoint a qualified consultancy firm to advise the Sultanate of Oman on its redevelopment plan for Salalah Port’s General Cargo Terminal. Oman’s Ministry of Transport and Communications is overseeing plans for the rehabilitation of the trans-shipment and logistics hub’s existing General Cargo Terminal (GCT), formally known as Mina Raysut – the precursor of the modern-day Port of Salalah, an Oman Daily Observer report said Tuesday. Technical offers were opened at the Tender Board Monday. The successful bidder will be contracted to provide design services to redevelop the GCT in order to meet future operational demands from import and export business at the port. Envisioned in the revamp is a central service corridor for transport of dry bulk and liquid cargo through the site, refurbishment of existing berths, development of new berths, and land development for existing and future business. The project is in line with the objective to reinforce and enhance the economic potential of the Port of Salalah and to attract further investment to the area, according to the Ministry. Part of the consultancy firm’s remit is to advise the ministry on the redevelopment of the general cargo terminal in accordance with the existing 20-year Port Master Plan (2009 – 2029), the Oman Daily Observer report said. Additionally, the ministry sees the potential for the development of an oil jetty, a design concept for which will be produced by the consultant. This design concept will be put together in coordination with the Ministry of Oil and Gas, the special operator for the facility, the handling agent, as well as the end user. Besides, the consultancy firm will prepare conceptual designs for a new limestone stockpile area to be located in an approximately 255,000 msq empty area located at the south-western side of the Port.