The Ministry of Transportation revealed that about 6,000 service transactions were completed in the maritime transport sector during the last quarter of last year. This came on the ministry’s official account on the X platform. The Maritime Transport Sector at the Ministry of Transportation seeks to modernize and develop the maritime transport sector to keep pace with accelerating international maritime developments through the creative application of international maritime conventions and following up on their developments, within the framework of the Ministry’s strategic plan, which aims to ensure safe maritime navigation that meets all maritime safety conditions.
The maritime transport sector works to develop the legal framework regulating maritime business, and to strengthen technical and administrative work in the areas of inspection, inspection, control, accident investigation, and others. The maritime transport sector places as its top priority ensuring the quality of maritime transport services and means by spreading a culture of quality, raising awareness of the best international standards and practices, and developing a system of complementary ship inspection procedures with the aim of ensuring that all ships comply with international requirements for safety and safe sailing conditions. As part of the efforts made by the sector to achieve its strategic objectives in line with the Qatar National Vision 2030, the maritime transport sector is keen to coordinate with the International Maritime Organization, follow up on its agreements and publications, and show flexibility in conducting continuous reviews of national legislation to be consistent with relevant international legislation. In a way that serves the vision and interests of the State of Qatar.
Building bridges of cooperation
The maritime transport sector also works to build bridges of cooperation with various bodies concerned with maritime transport specializations and involve them in international meetings and workshops.
The Maritime Transport Planning Department is responsible for setting the general policy for planning maritime transport business in light of the general policies of the state.
And setting the rules and decisions regulating maritime transport businesses and services.
Preparing and developing the necessary studies in the field of maritime transport lines, in coordination with the competent authorities.
Conducting the necessary studies to develop the Qatari fleet with the aim of increasing its ability to compete.
Proposing draft laws, regulations, decisions and rules regulating maritime transport activities.
Proposing fees for performing maritime transport services and activities.
Verifying the commitment of companies practicing maritime activities and the relevant administrative units to the standards, conditions and controls of the general quality of performance.
Implementing marine quality requirements issued by the International Organization for Standardization.
Preparing studies related to maritime transport affairs projects, and supervising and controlling their implementation and maintenance, in coordination with the relevant administrative units.
Preparing technical studies for memorandums of cooperation in the field of maritime training.
Proposing training programs and maritime workshops.
Preparing brochures to raise awareness of safety and the marine environment, in coordination with the relevant authorities.
The Maritime Transport Licensing Department is responsible for the following tasks:
Implementing the provisions of laws, regulations and decisions regulating maritime transport activities and services.
Preparing the necessary studies to determine the requirements for issuing licenses related to maritime transport activities and services, and amending them.
Receiving, studying, and issuing applications for licenses to practice maritime transport activities and services.
Receiving, studying, and issuing license applications for ships to practice maritime activities in Qatari waters.
Inspecting companies that practice maritime transport activities and services, and ensuring that they comply with the requirements for obtaining a license.
And creating a classification register for companies that practice maritime transport activities and services.
Studying complaints related to the work of ports and licensed companies, and making proposals regarding them.
Conducting field visits to ensure companies’ compliance with the investigation’s recommendations.
Implementing the provisions of maritime laws, regulations and agreements
The Registration and Seafarers Affairs Department is responsible for
Implementing the provisions of laws, regulations and international maritime agreements regulating the registration and affairs of seafarers.
Registering and writing off ships, and issuing certificates to them, in accordance with the provisions of applicable international maritime conventions.
Collecting, classifying, analyzing and amending data on certificate records of ships registered under the Qatari flag.
Creating records for registration, cancellation, mortgage, and seizure, and proposing amendments to them.
Registering, renewing and writing off marine vessels and wooden ships, issuing certificates to them, and inspecting them to ensure that they meet the requirements of the approved laws and decisions.
Issuing and renewing marine craft driving licenses.
Receiving and studying license applications to establish maritime driving training institutes and centres, and issuing them.
Issuing eligibility certificates to seafarers.
Approval of eligibility certificates for workers on Qatari ships.
Ratifying the maritime employment contract.