Oman’s Shinas port plans to start offering marine fuels to shippers

Oman's northernmost port, Shinas, is planning to start a marine fuel supply service as shipping companies seek alternatives to bunkering services during the conflict in the Middle East.

The port, used by fishing boats and for boat repairs, has targeted first-phase capacity of 200,000 metric tons/month of marine fuels, or 2 million mt/year, the Oman Observer has reported, citing Oman's ministry of transport.

The port could not be immediately reached for comment. No timeline was provided.

Germany's Bilfinger has signed an agreement with Shinas Marine Fuels & Oil Terminals SPC for delivery of phase 1 of the project, the newspaper reported earlier this month.

Bilfinger did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the project.

The UAE's Port of Fujairah, just north of Shinas, is the most-used Middle East port for bunkering, although sales have declined amid severe shipping disruptions in the region since the start of the Iran war in late February. Sales in 2025 were 7.38 million mt, according to Port of Fujairah data. Volumes dropped to only about 88,000 mt in June, according to port data, although they have since rebounded.

Earlier in September, Oman's transportation ministry signed a 39-year agreement with QS Maritime LLC of Oman to manage, operate and develop the Shinas port, according to the Oman Observer. The company was not immediately available for comment on the matter.

It took over port operations in January 2024, according to the newspaper report.