Oman’s new Maritime Law, promulgated recently by Royal Decree 19/2023, seeks to support the growth of a world-class shipping and maritime sector, while prioritizing the safety of navigation, sailors and the maritime environment.
According to the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology, the new law also seeks to promote the efficiency of maritime training and safeguard the rights of seafarers, within both local and international frameworks. Furthermore, it aims to support shipbuilding, commercial maritime activities, and tourism.
Article 2 of the Royal Decree empowers the Ministry to issue the necessary regulations and decisions to implement the law. Meanwhile, the current regulations and decisions will remain in effect until such time provided they do not contradict the provisions of the new law.
Article 3 repeals the Maritime Law and the Law on the Regulation of Maritime Navigation in Territorial Waters, as well as any other laws that contradict the new law or conflict with its provisions.
The new law applies to all types of maritime navigation, ships, and units, except for military and non-commercial state-owned ships. Foreign ships must comply with Oman's laws, regulations, and instructions, while international agreements on maritime transport are complementary to the new law, the Ministry said.
The law comprises various sections, including ‘The Ship’, which covers documents, supervision, inspection, ownership, management, sale, approvals, shipbuilding, licenses, registration, and ship's rights. The section on ‘Maritime Navigation Personnel’ regulates maritime work, including maritime labour contracts and the duties of seafarers. Other sections include property rights that apply to the ship, such as privilege rights, maritime liens, and reservations on the ship, such as precautionary seizure and executive seizure. There are also sections on the ship's agent, cargo agent, freight forwarder, and details of ship exploitation materials, such as ship rental.
This new law is consistent with Oman's national and regional strategies to achieve carbon neutrality, and it demonstrates the country's commitment to maintaining a safe, secure, and sustainable maritime industry, said the Ministry. The law regulates shipbuilding, shipping agents, and brokers, and it streamlines the procedures for registering ships under the Omani flag.
The law also introduces new provisions for investigating maritime accidents, fines, and penalties. Additionally, the law regulates maritime tourism and includes numerous updates to the legislative aspects and provisions for implementing international agreements, as well as provisions for the transport of goods and marine debris. Finally, the law integrates provisions of the law regulating maritime navigation in Omani territorial waters, the Ministry added.
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