Friday 26 / April / 2024
Muscat: The Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology affirmed that granting of licences for operating sea berths comes with the aim of regulating the port and sea berth sector, raising their quality and aligning them with maritime safety requirements.
In addition, it also aims to support the port sector, maritime transport and the logistics system, and enrich the tourism, commercial and industrial sectors in the Sultanate of Oman.
The Director of the Ports and Marine Quays Department at the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology, explained that the regulations for the establishment, management and operation of marine quays outside ports need some basic terms and requirements for obtaining a licence and granting the applicant initial approval from the port authority.
Until the approval of the concerned and competent authorities regarding the application submitted to the port authority, and approvals and maps stipulated in these regulations are completed and the project site inspected, it takes 30 days for arriving at a decision, he said.
He said in a statement to the Oman News Agency: “The port authority issues, after verifying that all documents and approvals stipulated in this regulation are met, a licence to manage or operate a marine pier for a period of one year, renewable for a similar period, provided that the application for licence renewal is submitted 30 days before its expiry date.
The Director of the Ports and Marine Quays Department at the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology stated that initial approvals have been granted to a number of local and foreign commercial companies for tourism purposes, and they are now in the process of completing the requirements of the regulation to issue licenses for managing and operating marine berths. Pointing out that licences are granted to large companies, as they contribute to providing job opportunities for small and medium enterprises in terms of providing maintenance services and services provided to ships.
The Director of the Ports and Seaports Department added that (4) licenses have been issued to manage and operate tourist berths, namely: the tourist berth of Al Marsa Travel and Tourism Company, the length of the berth is (250 metres) and the tourist berth of Saraya Bandar Al Jissah - Muscat Bay, the length of the berth is (105 metres) and the berth of the Muriya Company (Jebel Sifah) with a length of berths (864 metres) and the tourist berth of the Muriya Company (Hawana Salalah) with a length of berths (482 metres).
He said: Two licences have also been issued to manage and operate commercial berths, namely: the commercial berth for berthing service boats of the Oman Natural Gas Company in the Wilayat of Sur, with a berth length of (150 metres), and the commercial berth of Al Shorouk Marine Handling and Navigation Company, with a berth length of (305 metres).
