Ship anchored off Omani coast ordered to move within month

Muscat: A ship anchored off the coast of Dhofar Governorate has been asked to be removed from the site, according to Oman's Ministry of Transport and Communication (MoTC).

MoTC has asked the owner of the ship ‘Balboa' to remove the ship from its current spot within a month or face legal consequences.

Directorate General of Maritime Affairs of MoTC said in an announcement: “The owner of an anchored ship "Balboa" in Shuwaimiya in Wilayat of Shalim and Halaniyat Islands must be removed from the site no later than one month from the date of publication of this announcement."

"In case of failure to implement the above, the Ministry will take the necessary legal measures, according to the maritime navigation in territorial waters law no. 98/81 after the expiry of the specified period,” the MoTC added.

Another ship called ‘Jernas' in Fatqlot beach in Wilayat of Salalah was dragged to the shore because of strong waves associated with cyclone Makono that hit Dhofar governorate in 2018. Even the ship’s crew was evacuated.

Reportedly, the ‘Balboa’ has been anchored since the ‘Jernas’ was successfully dragged to the shore.