Riyadh: The State of Qatar, represented by the Ministry of Transport, participated in the 39th meeting of the Committee of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Port Authorities and Maritime Administrations' Officials, held at the GCC headquarters in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The delegation was spearheaded by the Assistant Undersecretary for Maritime Transport Affairs, Eng. Abdulaziz Abdullah Al Sulaiti.

According to Qatar News Agency, the meeting covered various topics aimed at enhancing joint maritime operations among the GCC states. Among the key issues discussed were the establishment of uniform terms and conditions for granting operating licenses to marine vessels not governed by international maritime conventions and promoting logistical integration among member states.

Furthermore, the meeting addressed the need to update the requirements for licensing companies tasked with inspecting and surveying marine vessels outside the purview of international maritime conventions. The committee also explored technical alternatives to bolster the resilience of Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) services.

Additionally, the participants considered classifying the Arabian Gulf waters as a Same Risk Area (SRA) under the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast Water and Sediments (BWM) and the development of green shipping corridors between GCC ports.

The meeting also focused on facilitating maritime transportation for navigation within territorial waters and entry into territories, establishing a marine environmental risk register, and examining proactive measures and solutions in the event of restrictions on vessel passage through the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab El-Mandeb Strait.