Oman floating factory operations have formally begun with the launch of a high-tech vessel designed to catch, process, and freeze fish directly at sea, marking a shift in how the Sultanate develops its fisheries sector under Oman Vision 2040.
The project, led by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources in partnership with the Ocean Fish Company, represents an investment of RO 7.7 million, or approximately $20 million. Officials say the floating factory allows marine products to be processed immediately after harvest, preserving freshness and shortening the time from “sea to market.”
The launch was led by Eng Yaqoub bin Khalfan al Busaidy, Under-Secretary of the Ministry for Fisheries, and forms part of a broader government effort to integrate fisheries more closely into national industrial and food security strategies.
From Sea to Manufacturing strategy takes shape
The Oman floating factory project builds on the government’s “From Sea to Manufacturing” initiative, which seeks to move the fisheries sector beyond raw exports toward higher-value processing and manufacturing. As part of this strategy, the government has been developing the Port of Duqm as a major industrial hub.
Earlier this year, the Ministry invited investors to establish land-based canning and processing facilities in the Al Duqm Fisheries Industrial Zone, supported by guaranteed fishing quotas. Those projects focused on shore-based production, dependent on vessels delivering catch back to port.
By contrast, the floating factory model brings processing capacity directly to fishing grounds, bridging traditional fishing activity with industrial-scale manufacturing at sea.
Export logistics and localisation of value
Operating out of Duqm Port, the Ocean Fish Company’s floating factory is positioned to ship frozen seafood products efficiently to international markets in Asia, Europe, and beyond. Officials describe the vessel as a logistical solution that reduces reliance on overseas processing and retains more economic value within Oman.
By processing fish at sea, the project aims to localise more of the fisheries value chain, ensuring that both processing activity and associated revenues remain in the domestic economy rather than being captured abroad.
Fisheries, food security, and employment
The RO 7.7 million investment is expected to create new employment opportunities for Omanis while supporting national food security objectives. Government officials have linked the project to broader efforts to position fisheries as a strategic pillar of economic diversification.
By combining advanced processing technology with Oman’s marine resources, the project is intended to reinforce the role of the Blue Economy in the country’s long-term growth, aligning industrial development with export competitiveness and resource utilisation.
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