A Ferry Service for Oman from Qatar and Kuwait might be launching soon.
This seems to be being organized from Qatar , though the ‘ownership’ of the ferry may be with a Marshal Islands company MH Marne, who ‘lease’ it to ‘Karenah Line’ of Iran, with the vessel’s management through the Greek company, ‘Go Shipping’. Karenah Line owns the Sunny, a similar Ferry based on Kish Island with service to Iran’s mainland.
The proposed ship is the “Grand Ferry” previously “Corse” which served the French Mediterranean Islands, with its capacity for 670 cars and 870 passengers. It has 237 cabins along with facilities including a cinema. Built in 1983 in France, the ship was refitted in the Greek Port of Chalkis and sailed for Doha on 16th November 2018; currently it is berthed in Doha Port. The route will have Doha as a hub and Kuwait and Sohar Port (Oman) as terminus on either side. The cruise time between Sohar Port and Doha is 25hours. A possible addition of an Iranian port has been mentioned.
The substantial vehicle capacity will allow freight carrying, providing additional services to Qatar which currently has no land border available for vehicle use. With the Qatari management by Faisal Mohamed Al Sualiti having strong connections with Qatar’s Minister of Transport and Communications, H E Jassim bin Saif Al Sulaiti it would seem that the actual operation of the ferry will depend on political decisions in Kuwait and Oman.
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