Gulf Agency Company our correspondents in Oman, has provided us with the following information
The Government of Oman has signed an IMO document that stipulates that Oman’s environmental protection should be upgraded to Tier II capability. Please find official document enclosed at bottom of page.
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Ministry of Regional Municipalities, Environment and Water Resources (MRMEWR) of Oman have further studied the matter and as of today the issue stands as follows:
• No shipping agent needs to sign a contract with the Tier II service provider
• MRMEWR will be dealing directly with the port instead of the agents
• MRMEWR and port operators are currently working out a calculation by way of which every vessel calling Omani ports shall have to pay an environment protection fee directly to the port.
• The protection fee amount will be paid by the shipping agent on behalf of their principal and amount will be billed with final DA.
Initial date to implement the environment protection fee was 1st January 2007 and as of date matter has been deferred indefinitely.
Based our experience while dealing with MRMEWR, we are of opinion that MRMEWR will go ahead with the environment protection issue. Strong political pressure is being use to enforce immediate implementation.
As information received from a very reliable source in the MRMEWR is that an agreement has been reached between MRMEWR and port operators confirming that port operators shall sign a contract with the Tier II protection service provider and the port will bill each vessel calling their respective ports a fee of RO 45.- /USD 118.- per call. The service provider and port operator signing agreement status is as follows:
Salalah port – Have signed the contract
Port Service Corp. – Expected to sign within the next couple of days
Sohar port – Agreement will be signed within a week period
Mina Al Fahal – Agreement will be signed within a week period
OMIFCO terminal – Agreement will be signed within a week period
Qalhat LNG – Agreement will be signed within a week period
The fee of RO 45.- is for commercial vessel calling to discharge dry cargo, however the fees applicable for crude carrying tankers and LNG carriers has to be decided.
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