The Ministry of Transport and Communications (MoTC) on Tuesday launched an online ship registration and certification system and a Long Range Identification and Tracking system (LRIT).
The launch was part of the Day of the Seafarer celebrations held at Crowne Plaza Muscat on Tuesday.
According to Mansoor Khalfan al Wuhaibi, head of MoTC's maritime navigation section, the new automated system will ease the procedures involved in the issuing of certificate for ships. "The system will allow individuals and companies to register their ships after getting a user name and a password."
Mustafa Darweesh al Nabhani, head of ports and ships security section said the LRIT system is another maritime milestone, which will help in tracking and monitoring ships. "The system applies to high-speed passenger ships, high-speed cargo ships that have the capacity to carry 300 tonnes and above, and mobile drilling units which undertake international voyages. The system will help send reports about these ships to the centre at MoTC."
According to Rashid Mohammed al Kiyumi, director general of maritime affairs at MoTC, "In addition to the two systems, MoTC has also conducted several events and studies including the signing of several memorandums of understanding on the mutual recognition of the Certification of Competency and signing agreements with ship classification societies. Nine other agreements are expected to be signed in the near future."
MoTC also plans to hold a regional workshop on voluntary audit scheme with the participation of 16 countries. Apart from this, a host of studies on maritime safety and regulations will be conducted. "While carrying out these studies, the ministry aims at regulating the ports and maritime affairs sector with a view to enhance the maritime safety in Omani ports and within the territorial water of Oman," Kiyumi said.
The event was held under the patronage of Liwa Rukn Bahry, Abdullah Khamees al Ra'esssi, commander of the Royal Navy of Oman.
Jianxin Zhu, director of technical cooperation division, International Maritime Organization said, "Ninety per cent of the world's trade is carried out through sea route and there are currently over 1.5mn seafarers around the world."
© Muscat Daily 2013
