Bahrain maritime law review sought

The board of the General Organisation of Sea Ports (GOP) has directed its management to seek the assistance of experts to further review and refine Bahrain maritime law.

The new law will cover issues connected with international maritime conventions and protocols and operation of port facilities, the board of directors were told at their 17th meeting.

It will also define the role, responsibility and functions of the GOP and it will establish jurisdiction to the International Conventions which Bahrain is presently or will be in the future a signatory to.

The meeting was chaired by Shaikh Daij bin Salman Al Khalifa and various GOP activities and issues were discussed.

The board reviewed the operational performance of Khalifa bin Salman Port (KBSP) in the second quarter of the year.

The board said it was pleased with the results and the improvement in operations of the port and praised the berth and crane productivity figures which are so far delivering as promised.

In addition, the board also reviewed the recent developments of the service area project to be constructed adjacent to the entrance of KBSP.

The service area will consist of a multi-storey car park, warehouse facility, offices and a bank and ATM facilities.

It will also contain a fuel station, a restaurant and a convenient store.

'Despite the recent shifting of operations to KBSP, which usually involves various technical and functioning challenges, the performance results are very encouraging and constantly improving,' said Shaikh Daij.

'The GOP will continue monitoring KBSP's performance closely to ensure that it is being operated to the highest standards possible to ensure the satisfaction of the port users'

The board also discussed the dredging of the Bahrain Approach Channel project.

This project involves dredging the main navigational channel and the installation of buoys along the channel according to international standard.

It will allow big mother ships to call on Bahrain ports, which comes in line with the projected plan of transforming the kingdom into a transhipment hub of the northern Gulf area.

The board instructed the management to continue co-ordinating with the Ministry of Works and the consultant regarding the development of this project.