Members, invited sponsors and guests of the Worldwide Project Consortium (WWPC) met in Muscat, Oman at the Sheraton Hotel from 13th to 15th of February for the 19th annual membership conference. About 80 attendees from the membership and invited sponsors representing 49 countries enjoyed the warm hospitality of the networks member for Oman, Khimji Ramdas Shipping LLC, part of the Khimji Ramdas Group.

The conference attendees learned about the services and opportunities provided by the Port of Duqm, Oman, first class ocean carriers SAL Heavy Lift GmbH and Wallenius Wilhelmsen, Track-and-Trace specialist PeriPlus GmbH, and Khimji Ramdas Shipping LLC as sponsors.

DSC from left to right: Khimji Ramdas Shipping team, WWPC Directors,  Reps for the Port of Duqm, SAL Heavylift, Wallenius Wilhelmsen and PeriPlus.
DSC from left to right: Khimji Ramdas Shipping team, WWPC Directors,  Reps for the Port of Duqm, SAL Heavylift, Wallenius Wilhelmsen and PeriPlus.
The conference started with a traditional cultural performance, followed by a keynote Welcome to Oman, presented by Mr. M.C.Jose, CEO of the Projects and Logistics Group of Khimji Ramdas (KR). "The WWPC member directory provides a first class reference source to locate the most professional project cargo specialists across the world' says Jose. "And it is a matter of immense pride for KR Shipping to host this august gathering in Muscat. Oman is a young and beautiful country and we are thankful to WWPC for giving us an opportunity to showcase not only its beauty but immense business potential'.

In face-to-face meetings attendees discussed new opportunities and common goals. On Friday 15th February, a WWPC benefit auction was held in support for the Association for the Welfare of Handicapped Children. Mr. Rajesh Vaidyanathan, General Manager of Khimji Ramdas Shipping, accepted the task to act as auctioneer.  HH Hujaija Jaifer Al Said, Chairman of the Association, attended the auction. 

Sponsor donations of ship-, train- and trailer models, an advertisement package from HLPFI, hotel vouchers from the Sheraton, an original insurance claim letter from the "Titanic" and a members conducted tennis match between Mr. Willy Hoffmann of BNSF Logistics, USA and Ms. Anushka Kapoor of SARR Freights Corporation, India contributed to the result, of more than USD 43.000,- which also included cash donations.

Over the years this type of WWPC auctions at the annual conferences have gained more than USD 250,000- to various local charities, supporting Children in Need and are always a highlight of these events. 

The trophee for 1st place was handed over to Mr. Willy Hoffmann of BNSF Logistcs, USA by Mr. Mohamed Osman of Darka for Trading and Services, Sudan. Ms. Sophie Barnes of the HeavyLift and Project Forwarding (HLPFI) Magazine handed over the trophee for 2nd place to Ms. Anushka Kappor of SARR Freight Corporation, India. 

Wolfgang Karau, Director of the network states "We are happy to be in Muscat and are grateful to the local assistance of the Khimji Ramdas team and their Khimji Travel staff for having assisted us with the arrangements for our 2019 event."

In a closed Members Only session, members voted for the location and date of the networks 20th annual conference in 2020 to be held in Zansibar, Tanzania in early September that year.

The members also re-elected their Board of Advisors for 2020 to include Mr. Ahmed Dahshan of Khedivial Marine Logistics, Egypt, Mr. Elmer Sarmiento of Royal Cargo, Philippines, Mr. Willy Hoffmann of BNSF Logistics, USA and Mr. Dirk Roethig of LS Cargo International, Germany.