The Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology has enhanced maritime affairs services during the first half of 2023. It also issued 406 services related to maritime activities, posting a 81% growth in this segment, compared to the corresponding period in 2022.

The number of registration certificates issued for marine units stood at 217, while 622 existing certificates were renewed. During the first half of 2023, the Ministry issued 165 navigation permits in favour of foreign ships so that they could operate in the Omani territorial waters, as against 167 such permits issued last year.

As many as 357 certificates were issued to seafarers. The ministry also issued nine security compliance certificates for port facilities and 9 permits for diplomatic ships’ access to Oman territorial waters. The ministry issued 108 other permits, among them 63 for Sultan Qaboos Port and 45 permits for Salalah Port.

During the first half of 2023, 153 foreign ships were inspected and their data entered in the database of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), which was 13% higher than the number of such ships inspected during the corresponding period last year. However, 90 vessels were found in violation of the relevant regulations.