More Coast Guard centres

MUSCAT — Colonel Badr bin Khalfan al Zadjali, Commander of the Coast Guard, Royal Oman Police said the Directorate-General of Police and Customs, is setting up centres for the Coast Guard in the a number of wilayats. The Coast Guard Commander said the Sultanate’s waters witnessed 134 marine accidents compared with 110 in the same period last year. The accidents were mainly drowning, collision between vessels and fire incidents, but also different incidents such as crew falling in the sea and injuries while working on ships. There were other incidents of ship engines breaking down and violations by fishermen.

“During the first quarter of this year the Coast Guard personnel in collaboration with other Royal Oman Police (ROP) units rounded up 213 infiltrators compared with 64 infiltrators in the same period last year and seized 20 boats compared with 64 in the same period last year,” he said. Col Al Zadjali said no incidents of attacks on fishermen were reported during the period mentioned, however he called on fishermen to exercise caution and try to avoid risks while away from big ships.

The Coast Guard is working hard to curb the phenomenon of drug smuggling and its personnel are deployed in all coastal governorates and they carry out search operations on suspicious boats which enter the Omani territorial waters. Col Al Zadjali called for fishermen and seafarers to make sure that their boats have safety equipment and to check the boats for any cracks that may cause the boat to sink. Commenting on the increasing incidents of drowning, he said the people who do not know how to swim should not venture into the sea and the sea-goers should follow the instructions given by the Coast Guard.

“The Coast Guard in collaboration with the Civil Defence are carrying out campaigns to increase the people’s awareness on how to avoid drowning incidents. We are installing signboards with the necessary instructions and precautions that should be followed by the public to reduce drowning incidents. "The Coast Guard has rescue teams with fast boats and rescue equipment ready for conducing rescue operations. The Coast Guard is also conducting search operations and help for boats and ships that experience break down or face any unexpected emergencies on the sea. We always call on seafarers to carry with them reserve engines on their boats," he said.

Col Al Zadjali valued the citizens’ co-operation with the Coast Guard and their role in curbing infiltration through reporting any suspicious boats by using the emergency line 9999 or the Coast Guard number 24714888. He said the Operations Department at the Coast Guard has mechanisms for dealing with the reports and tip-offs they receive from citizens. This department is specialised in the Coast Guard patrols, the implementation of operations as well as the co-ordination between the Coast Guard headquarters and the operation boats.

The department also receives reports from the safety and security stations and the international anti-piracy centres. During the summer months the department activates additional lines and intensifies the coastal patrols on high footfall beaches. The ROP’s Directorate-General of Inquires and Criminal Investigation in collaboration with the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) organised a workshop on the Interpol’s anti-piracy project.

Experts from Interpol delivered working papers on the importance of the project and its objectives to supports the authorities concerted with law-enforcement in member states, as well as fostering the international co-operation and the exchange of information and expertise to stamp out inter-continental crime the most serious of which is piracy. The workshop was attended by officers from different police units and representatives of the Public Prosecutions.

Meanwhile, the Directorate-General of Inquiries and Criminal Investigation in Al Dakhiliya police headquarters apprehended three men charged with stealing jewels and electronic devices from a house in the Niyabat of Birkat Al Mouz. An ROP source said. Nizwa police station received reports of thefts that occurred in two houses by unknown miscreants who remained at large until the police investigation spotted their whereabouts and booked them. When faced with evidences the trio admitted to their crimes.
The source said one of the accused, a 26-year-old, was previously found to be driving above the speed limit.