Oman’s Ministry of Transport and Communications has signed major agreements with international rating agencies to improve quality in monitoring vessel movement in the region.
According to the Oman Observer, the agreements signed by Dr Ahmed bin Mohammed al Futaisi, Minister of Transport and Communications, are with British, Korean and French ship classification agencies which will carry out technical survey of vessels flying Omani flag and certify in accordance with the international regulations prevailing in the maritime sector.
The British standard rating agency, Lloyd’s Register is a global engineering, technical and business services organisation wholly owned by the Lloyd’s Register Foundation, a UK charity dedicated to research and education in science and engineering. LR is a marine classification society and operates across many industry sectors, with over 9,000 employees based in around 78 countries.
The Korean Register of Shipping has been promoting safe ships and clean oceans since 1960 by continually developing technology and human resources pertaining to shipping, shipbuilding and other industrial services.
Bureau Veritas, the French classification society with international outreach in ship classification and related services such as certification, training and consultancy helps member countries achieve better standards, and thus bring benefits to ship-owners, shipbuilders, shipyards, equipment manufacturers, insurers, brokers, bankers, designers, consultants and engineering companies, oil companies, flag administrations and all authorities related to maritime safety and port activities.
“The signing with these bodies is to implement the IMO Resolution No (18) A 739, as amended, and pursuant to the terms of a group of international maritime conventions joined by Oman which stipulates the necessity of certification of vessels by bodies recognised by the Maritime Administration of the State”, Rashid bin Mohammed al Kiyumi, Director-General of Maritime Affairs at the Ministry of Transport and Communications, told the Observer on the sidelines of the signing ceremony.
The tasks of these agencies include the mandate to hold technical survey vessels flying the flag of Oman and the certification of international maritime safety.
Additionally, they will also ensure the safety of life at sea and issue ship security certificate to prevent marine pollution from ships, hazardous materials and certificates to prevent collisions and load lines ships and certificates of tonnage of ships and other certifications required internationally.
Rashid further said that the ministry is currently working out the modalities of entering into agreements with other international rating agencies such as American Bureau of Ship (ABS), the German ship classification and rating agency (GL-DNV), the Italian ship classification (RINA), and the Japanese ship classification (NK).
