Job boost for Oman maritime graduates as Ministry of Transport and Communications signs pact firms

Muscat: Graduates from the International Maritime College Oman will have more job opportunities now as the Ministry of Transport and Communications (MoTC) gas signed agreements with six international ship classification and supervision companies to start businesses in the Sultanate.
“All kinds of ships will now be able to choose the company which will inspect their ship,” said Said bin Hamdoon bin Saif Al Harthi, Undersecretary of Ports and Maritime Affairs. These firms have been selected as they are the best players in their field and are planning to open offices in Muscat, he added.
Al Harthi, who signed the first set of agreements, was talking to the Times of Oman on the sidelines of the signing ceremony, which was held at the MoTC headquarters in Al Khuwair on Monday.
The first set was signed by American, Norwegian and Indian firms to inspect big ships which come under international treaties.
The second set was signed by Korean, German and Japanese companies to check on smaller ships which do not come under such treaties.
The mandate of these companies comes as an implementation of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) resolution 739.
The mandate includes conducting technical inspections on ships carrying the Omani flag, issuing certificates on maritime safety and environment.
The Undersecretary of Ports and Maritime Affairs also revealed that new equipment are being installed in Sohar Port which will make it capable to receive the biggest cargo ships in the world.