Oman signs three deals with ship classification societies

Muscat: Oman on Monday signed three agreements with ship classification societies for small ships that are not abiding the international treaties.
The agreements were signed by the ministry of transport and communications with British (Lloyds register of shipping), Italian (Rina) and Emirati (Tasneef) ships classification societies.
Saeed bin Hamdoon bin Saif Al Harthy, undersecretary of ports and maritime affairs, has signed on the agreements on behalf the ministry and from the classification societies signed the CEOs and regional directors.
The authorisation includes the conducting of a technical survey on ships holding the Omani flag as well issue the international certificates regarding the maritime safety and safety of life at sea, ships safety certificate, maritime pollution caused by ships and hazardous materials avoidance certificate, collision avoidance certificate, load lines certificate, Tonnage certificate and other internationally required certificates.
These pacts will authorise these three classification societies to supervise on small ships not abiding the international treaties in order to ensure the navigational validities of these small ships as well its compliance to the maritime safety requirements in accordance to the provisions of small ships not complying with international treaties regulations in GCC which the Sultanate approved in a ministerial decision.
Al Harthy said that the inking these pacts with the international classification societies came as a compliance to the Omani maritime law as well the international maritime agreements regarding navigation safety.
He also stated that the Emarati (Tasneef), The British (Lloyds register of shipping) and the Italian (Rina) ships classifications will be able to examine and inspect, on behalf the ministry, the small ships not complying to the international agreements. They will also be able to issue as the technical certificate for such ships.
He noted that there is work on progress to sign pacts with other international ships classification societies, thus providing more options for the ships owners regarding this matter.
This authorisation was part of IMO decision and its amendments as well articles for a set of IMO agreements which stated the issuance of the technical certificates of ships by a recognised classification society which are approved by the maritime authorities of Oman.