Muscat: The Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology (MTCIT) issued a decision 33/2022 on regulating water taxis based on the Maritime Law promulgated by Royal Decree 81/35 and law regulating maritime navigation in regional waters, promulgated by Royal Decree No. 98/81, and Royal Decree 84/60 on the Sultanate’s accession to the two international conventions on the rules of law preventing collisions at sea and for the safety of lives at sea.
The Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology, has been working on an improvement plan for the transportation sector, which will include organizing the public transport and operations of trucks.
On the passenger transport front, Khamis bin Mohammed al Shammaki, the Undersecretary for land transport, told the Observer, that there are plans to introduce water taxis in Oman. “We are in discussion to identify possible spots to develop the water taxi service in Muscat and Musandam. Once the proposal is ready, a tender will be floated.”
The decision states that water taxis will be used to transport people for an agreed fee, following approval from the Maritime Authority.
Article (2) states that it is is not permissible to practice the activities stipulated in this regulation except after obtaining a license.
Some of the requirements include that the company must be commercially registered, a license to practice the activity of water taxi by fare, certificate of origin of the marine water taxi unit, proof of ownership, age shall be not more than 15 years from the date of its construction or reconstruction, except for those with fiberglass, customs release statement if the unit was purchased from outside the Sultanate of Oman, a comprehensive insurance document of its crew and passengers,
licensing of radio communication equipment, a copy of the passport or ID card of the captain.
The maritime authority must decide on the application for a navigation license within 30 days from the date of its submission.
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