On July 5, Qatar’s Ministry of Transport announced on social media that all types of maritime shipping activities are now fully resumed. The decision takes effect immediately, and the ministry urges all vessel operators and users to follow current maritime rules and instructions to ensure the highest level of safety for all sailing activities.
This move reverses a previous notice issued on June 29, which had temporarily stopped sailboat and fishing boat operations until further notice. Interestingly, commercial shipping was not affected by that earlier restriction.
Qatar hasn’t explained why they imposed the June 29 measures. But just a day before that order, Qatar’s Interior Ministry reported that on June 28, the Coast and Border Security General Directorate had found a missing boat. Two Qatari citizens onboard were hit by shrapnel from regional military operations, resulting in one death and one injury.
Ships sailing in the Strait of Hormuz on June 26
Iran’s commercial attaché to Qatar, Abbas Abdolkhani, said on July 5 that after about five months of disruption in maritime transport between Iran’s Deyr Port and Qatar’s Al Ruwais Port, coordination between the Iranian embassy and Qatari authorities has allowed Al Ruwais Port to start receiving Iranian goods again. Maritime trade between the two countries is now back on track.
