NFC transports over 200,000 passengers in October

Muscat: The National Ferries Company (NFC), one of the companies of the Asyad Group, continues to strive to achieve the goals it has set in its development strategy, which aim at providing convenient maritime transport to citizens and residents.
These goals are in addition to the promotion of various sectors of tourism and commercial development through the transport of individuals, vehicles and goods, in accordance with the best practices in place in the global maritime transport sector.
According to the latest statistics issued by the company at the end of October 2018, the number of passengers and vehicles on the fleet of ferries is increasing. The number of passengers transported by the end of October 2018 stood at 202,590, an increase of 2.2 per cent compared 198,262 passengers during the same period in 2017.
The number of vehicles transported by the end of October was 51,138 with a growth rate of 0.4 per cent, compared to 50,916 vehicles in the same period of 2017. The cargo volume reached 10,057 tonnes.
The company is keen to develop its promotion and operation plans, in line with the extensive development steps that the Sultanate is undergoing under the wise leadership of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said to enhance and integrate all efforts to achieve comprehensive development.
The company is currently providing services to seven local ports through the operation of 69 weekly journeys. It is looking forward to reaching more local ports. A contract was recently signed for the design and construction of a vehicle loading and unloading bridge from the ferries at the fishing harbour in the Niyabat of Lima, which will be implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries. It is one of the most important development projects to serve the citizens in the social and commercial fields, in addition to its role in promoting tourism.
The company is also preparing for the coming period to launch the electronic booking system for ferry journeys, which will contribute to reducing procedures and saving the time and effort of passengers and enabling them to easily complete their bookings.
In the area of social responsibility, the company works on the development of rural areas through the support and sponsorship of many activities and events in ways that benefit the economic and social community. The efforts of National Ferries Company are not confined to boosting the maritime transport system, but have also worked to Omanise the senior maritime positions, attract young Omanis to work in the ferry crew, and create new career opportunities for the market, many of whom have become captains of the latest ferry fleet.
The company is counted on in the implementation of the national logistics strategy of the Sultanate led by Asyad Group to promote economic diversification in the Sultanate through the integration of the company's services with some of the companies of Asyad Group to enhance efficiency and reduce the cost of providing services by organising joint bus and ferry trips and contributing to the Group's unified communication centre to achieve added value, especially in the transport and shipping sectors.