Information received from Capt. Inam of Salalah Port Authority – February 2011.

MARINE NOTICE 01/2011

Please note the new requirement of appointing agents for all yachts calling Port of Salalah.

Ed. It is unknown which of these agents has any experience in dealing with yachts. If any cruisers have used an agent at Salalah, we will be glad to hear about their experience.

Our thanks to Richard Bolt of Blue Water Rallies for passing on this information.

Cruisers Report – May 2011

From Kirsten of SV Sappho

The guidelines for Port Clearance for yachts arriving in Salalah mean normally: Vessels over 30 net tonnage are required to have an agent, less than 30 net tonnages an agent is not required!

This is not true, because it is not possible to clear in without the agent, named Mr. Mohammed Saad.

Mr. Saad arranges all in this Port of call and nothing is possible without him. There are some other agents who want to do the paperwork as well, but he suppresses this.

Some Captains of the Sailing vessels (less than 30 net tonnages) asked the Port Captain to clear in by themselves. The Port Captain said it is not necessary to do the paperwork with the agent.

At the Customs and Immigration office, the officers want to do the paperwork by the Captains themselves, but Mr. Saad forbid the officers to do this without him. He suppresses and manipulates the worth of the authorities in the Port.

How can the Port authority accept this?

The influence and the high prices of this agent (200 US $) were the reasons, why many Yachts and Rallies didn’t sail to Salalah in 2011!

The prices of Mr. Saad in 2011 were:

• For Mr. Saad as an agent – 200 US $ (in 2010 he gets 25 – 50 US $)
• For Immigration – 45 US $
• For Port Captain/Clearance – 50 US $
• For Customs – 45 US $
• For Visa – 60 US $/Person

Summary: 460 US $ / boat (37 ft)

Besides, it is also not possible to get fuel and Diesel without Mr. Saad. The price of Diesel was 1 US $ / liter over him;

He earned 0,65 US $ / Liter!!!! Every boat needs between 400 – 800 l, so I think there are some things to regulate.

We, as a big group of sailors, who have been in Salalah (Mina Raysut) end of February 2011, had no other choice to accept, but we recommend all sailors not to sail to Salalah until these intrigues change.

It’s a pity because the people are friendly and the hospitality great and it would be a good country for vacation.

It destroys the reputation of this country and his population.

It’s time that somebody changes this influence or power of one agent in the Port of Salalah.

Ed. Noonsite contacted Mr. Mohammed Saad for comment, however received no reply.