SOHAR Inks Deal to Manage Emergency Response Organisation

Sohar Port and Freezone (SOHAR) has signed an agreement with Oman's Unity Fire & Safety Services LLC, to manage the former's Sohar Emergency Response Organisation (SERO).

The deal was inked by Mark Geilenkirchen CEO of SOHAR Port and Kevan Whitehead, MD of Unity Fire and Safety Services LLC.

Post the signing ceremony Mark Geilenkirchen said: “We began using the brand SERO in 2018 mainly within the Port industrial community and we aim to continue to brand it in this manner.

"The SERO model was developed in close cooperation with the tenants as well as the Safety Authority Rotterdam, from the Netherlands.

"Currently, we have several emergency response units operated either by individual tenants or by Public Authority for Civil Defence (PACDA). These teams do not have the guaranteed capacity and skills to fight the industrial incident scenarios that can happen throughout the area.

"With the introduction of a centralised SERO, Emergency Response can be set up more efficiently to be able to handle larger incident scenarios effectively.

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"The agreement will help to minimise the financial, reputational, environmental and human safety impacts of any incidents that might occur. We have identified the need to strengthen the Emergency Response system and align it better with the area risk profile."

Kevan Whitehead, Managing Director of Unity Fire and Safety Services LLC said: “As a local Omani company, Unity Fire & Safety Services LLC is extremely proud and delighted to have been chosen to be a part of the management of the Sohar Emergency Response Organisation.

"We envision that SERO will be responsible for the creation of local employment opportunities with a target of around 90% Omanisation, furthermore creating a cost-effective and efficient emergency response organisation for all the tenants and customers at SOHAR Port and Freezone.”

SERO has several key capabilities and is tasked to provide medical assistance, standard and industrial firefighting, HAZMAT and technical rescue, including rope and confined space rescue.

On a 24-hour basis, SERO maintains an emergency response and dispatch centre to handle incident reports and alert ER team members.

SERO is tasked with providing assistance anywhere within the port within six minutes of an emergency being reported. An important additional task is to add value for tenants, with services that include fire equipment maintenance and prevention advice.

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