Oman Tightens Maritime Transit Rules in Its Territorial Waters

Oman's Maritime Security Center issued new instructions for the transit and presence of foreign vessels in its territorial waters. The rules require vessels to hold a navigation license, keep AIS switched on at all times, and declare any weapons and ammunition carried on board.

The measures are based on Royal Decree 30/2026, issued earlier this year, and on Ministerial Decision No. 30/2026 of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology, which oversees maritime affairs in the Sultanate. Warships, vessels on military missions, ships heading to Omani ports solely to load or discharge cargo, and vessels entering under emergency conditions are exempt.

Foreign-flagged vessels must apply for the navigation license through a shipping agent at least three days in advance, and the license will only be granted upon presentation of valid flag registration and insurance, including P&I cover. Once the license is obtained, vessels must operate only within the authorized area and for the authorized activity, enter protected or restricted zones solely with prior approval, refrain from photographing public and private property, and leave territorial waters within 24 hours of the license's expiry or cancellation, after obtaining a departure clearance. Non-compliance may result in administrative fines or in the suspension or revocation of the license.

The measure comes amid reports of AIS anomalies and GNSS interference in the Strait of Hormuz, where GPS jamming and spoofing distort vessel positions, causing ships to appear in fictitious clusters, follow implausible routes, or show up on dry land. According to Maritime Executive, the decision may also be a response to the operation of unidentified Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps boats in Omani waters, the transit of shuttle tankers through the Strait, and the growing use of these waters by so-called dark fleet vessels, which carry invalid or fraudulent registrations and lack valid P&I insurance, and which also conduct ship-to-ship transfers of crude oil and LNG.

Maritime Executive noted that enforcing these rules will pose a considerable challenge for the Omani Coast Guard, given the volume of maritime traffic and the fact that the rules apply to vessels merely transiting territorial waters, many of which could enter and exit before any enforcement action can be taken.