Post by ferryfast admin on Jun 20, 2011 12:43:36 GMT -5
OMAN--Fast ferry service between Khasab and Iran soon
A. E. James
www.timesofoman.com/echoice.asp?detail=46556
Sun Jun 19 2011 08:45:21 GMT+0400 (Arabian Standard Time) Oman Time
MUSCAT: The state-owned National Ferries Company (NFC) is set to start a fast ferry service between Oman’s northern port of Khasab and Iran’s Bander Abbas. Plans are also afoot to link Khasab with Dubai by commencing similar fast ferry service.
“We are ready to start the service at any time. After getting a green signal, we will start service between Khasab and Bander Abbas. It is only a matter of completing some formalities between the two countries,” Mahdi Al Abdwani, chairman of NFC, told journalists here yesterday. He was talking on the sidelines of ‘German Business cruise’ organised by the German Industry and Commerce Office Oman.
Saying that a fast ferry service will substantially reduce the travel time between Khasab and Bander Abbas, Al Abdwani noted that it takes only one hour and 40 minutes for his company’s vessels to cross 62 miles, against five hours taken for small boats in this sector now. “We can operate twice a day in this sector,” he said.
The NFC chief also said that the whole plan is to make Khasab a transit hub for those Omani travellers who visit Iran. “People travelling to Iran can go to Khasab first and from there take another ferry to Bander Abbas.
Al Abdwani said Iran and Oman have some arrangements in place to ease the movement of nationals from both countries.
Business demand
Elaborating on the potential demand for travellers, he said that the demand will be more for trade and business. “There is a big potential for business, especially with a big hypermarket coming up soon in Khasab. Also, Omran has opened tenders for two or three hotels in Khasab,” he said, adding; “During the peak tourist season between September and April, it is difficult to find hotel accommodation there.”
Referring to plans to start a service between Khasab and Dubai, he said: “We have conducted a study for both Iran and Dubai. (We found that) both are viable.
"We are also ready to start in Khasab-Dubai sector.”
Responding to another question on the viability of starting services to the Indian subcontinent, he said: “Nothing is impossible. But we need to carry out some studies on refuelling.
The ferries can sail up to seven hours without refuelling. This can be done in sea by using barge. But we have to look at the business point of view as well.”
He said that presently, NFC has three vessels – Shinas, Hormuz and Sawqrah – and two (Al Halaniyat and Masirah) more will join the fleet this year. While Shinas and Hormuz have capacity to accommodate 208 passengers and 56 cars each, Sawqrah can take 100 passengers and 40 cars.
The NFC’s board has already approved for acquiring two more new vessels, which can carry a total of 300 passengers and three relatively small water taxis. The two new vessels will serve the Shinas-Masirah route, while the water taxis are for operating in northern Khasab-Dibba-Lima sector. This will take the total number of vessels to 10.
According to the plan, two fast ferries are assigned to serve the southern route of Salalah-Al Halaniyat-Shuwaymiyah-Hasik.
“Unfortunately, due to non-availability of infrastructure in the south, we are serving only in Muscat-Khasab route.”
Once the facilities in Shinas are ready, the company will start service in Shinas-Khasab sector as well.
The NFC chief added that his company is operating a landing craft, which is a logistic vessel, for helping the harbour project work in Al Halaniyat.
Saying that NFC is successfully ferrying vehicles between Muscat and Khasab for the last three months, he noted that there is a good demand for such a service since tourists going to Khasab find it difficult to get transport facilities there.
A. E. James
www.timesofoman.com/echoice.asp?detail=46556
Sun Jun 19 2011 08:45:21 GMT+0400 (Arabian Standard Time) Oman Time
MUSCAT: The state-owned National Ferries Company (NFC) is set to start a fast ferry service between Oman’s northern port of Khasab and Iran’s Bander Abbas. Plans are also afoot to link Khasab with Dubai by commencing similar fast ferry service.
“We are ready to start the service at any time. After getting a green signal, we will start service between Khasab and Bander Abbas. It is only a matter of completing some formalities between the two countries,” Mahdi Al Abdwani, chairman of NFC, told journalists here yesterday. He was talking on the sidelines of ‘German Business cruise’ organised by the German Industry and Commerce Office Oman.
Saying that a fast ferry service will substantially reduce the travel time between Khasab and Bander Abbas, Al Abdwani noted that it takes only one hour and 40 minutes for his company’s vessels to cross 62 miles, against five hours taken for small boats in this sector now. “We can operate twice a day in this sector,” he said.
The NFC chief also said that the whole plan is to make Khasab a transit hub for those Omani travellers who visit Iran. “People travelling to Iran can go to Khasab first and from there take another ferry to Bander Abbas.
Al Abdwani said Iran and Oman have some arrangements in place to ease the movement of nationals from both countries.
Business demand
Elaborating on the potential demand for travellers, he said that the demand will be more for trade and business. “There is a big potential for business, especially with a big hypermarket coming up soon in Khasab. Also, Omran has opened tenders for two or three hotels in Khasab,” he said, adding; “During the peak tourist season between September and April, it is difficult to find hotel accommodation there.”
Referring to plans to start a service between Khasab and Dubai, he said: “We have conducted a study for both Iran and Dubai. (We found that) both are viable.
"We are also ready to start in Khasab-Dubai sector.”
Responding to another question on the viability of starting services to the Indian subcontinent, he said: “Nothing is impossible. But we need to carry out some studies on refuelling.
The ferries can sail up to seven hours without refuelling. This can be done in sea by using barge. But we have to look at the business point of view as well.”
He said that presently, NFC has three vessels – Shinas, Hormuz and Sawqrah – and two (Al Halaniyat and Masirah) more will join the fleet this year. While Shinas and Hormuz have capacity to accommodate 208 passengers and 56 cars each, Sawqrah can take 100 passengers and 40 cars.
The NFC’s board has already approved for acquiring two more new vessels, which can carry a total of 300 passengers and three relatively small water taxis. The two new vessels will serve the Shinas-Masirah route, while the water taxis are for operating in northern Khasab-Dibba-Lima sector. This will take the total number of vessels to 10.
According to the plan, two fast ferries are assigned to serve the southern route of Salalah-Al Halaniyat-Shuwaymiyah-Hasik.
“Unfortunately, due to non-availability of infrastructure in the south, we are serving only in Muscat-Khasab route.”
Once the facilities in Shinas are ready, the company will start service in Shinas-Khasab sector as well.
The NFC chief added that his company is operating a landing craft, which is a logistic vessel, for helping the harbour project work in Al Halaniyat.
Saying that NFC is successfully ferrying vehicles between Muscat and Khasab for the last three months, he noted that there is a good demand for such a service since tourists going to Khasab find it difficult to get transport facilities there.