[color=#ff0000]This report has been posted on the OCC Forum to preserve this historic data when the Cruising Information Community site is closed. It is not intended to encourage skippers to sail in waters which have now become more dangerous from piracy and conflict. Skippers considering sailing in these waters are strongly advised to obtain up to date information on local security situation.[/color]

This information has been contributed by and is intended for use by competent amateur yachtsmen as general guidance solely to supplement research of their cruising plans.It has not been checked or verified by the OCC. The Information may be inaccurate or out of date and is NOT TO BE USED FOR NAVIGATION.


Flying Fish Articles
http://www.https://occwebsite.azurewebsites.net/Flying-Fish-Archive?id=id=2652&Itemid=397#Oman


Salalah (Mina Raysut) – 16°56.10'N, 54°01.10'E
Port Rasut – 17°00.00'N, 54°00.00'E

Salalah (Mina Raysut) – 16°56.10'N, 54°01.10'E
[color=#ff0000]Report Dated 2007[/color]
Cruisers gather in Salalah (as it is generally known) before making the passage to Aden or Djibouti. There most will form small convoys to offer mutual protection while transiting what has been called “Bandit Alley”.

Mina Raysut (Salalah) is a major container port and in 2007 was being seriously extended. There is a new mole to the SE of the old one, marked at its outer end with a North Cardinal buoy. (see diagram at head of report) The position given above is for that buoy. The main jetty with the container-handling cranes has also been extended to the ENE to provide at least one additional berth.

Call Port Control on VHF Ch 12 (or 16) to request permission to enter. You may be told to wait if there are ship movements taking place.

The yacht anchorage is about 16°56.22’N, 054°00.34’E. You must anchor on the western side to allow a gunboat room to enter and leave its berth on the eastern mole. Port Control will be watching you from their eyrie above you and will soon be on the radio if you pick a spot they dislike! The holding is awful, stony clay and it is almost impossible to get the anchor to really dig in. Neither is there enough room (if there are other yachts present) to lay plenty of scope. Fortunately in the NE monsoon winds are usually light to non-existent, at least in February.

Mohammed and his New Zealand partner Christine are the local yacht agents and will bring out the officials to clear you in, interpreting as necessary. They will also fix car hire, fuel (when we were there a group of boats clubbed together and committed to buy enough diesel for Mohammed to bring in a tanker but for smaller amounts he will arrange to fetch fuel in cans). If they like you they will offer to take you into town and show you the fruit and vegetable market (souk) and the bazaar. Their charges remained a mystery to us, since there didn’t appear to be any! We were told that Omani men find it difficult to talk about money and presumably Mohammed makes a margin on the fuel and other services he provides.

About half a mile from the yacht anchorage is an ex-pat club called the Oasis which offers western style food and music and beer!. In town we ate Omani style in a private room (so the ladies could unveil) sitting on the carpet. The food was delicious.

We hired a car for a day’s touring. At first the barren countryside was quite intimidating (it was our first sight of a desert). Later on we discovered a real oasis where local swam at lunchtime. We also explored a wadi running several miles inland with a river, grass, trees and bushes. Having grown used to the desert, to see such greenery made a pleasant change. There were at least two Bedouin encampments in the wadi but sadly the camel hair tents of folk-lore have become blue plastic tarpaulins. Still we saw more camels per hectare than we would have thought possible, all in beautiful condition.

There are at least two large supermarkets in town (about 12 km away from the port) plus a smaller one just outside the main airbase. This last sells pork sausages, steak and kidney pies and bacon! Mohammed will tell you how to find it.

Salalah was our first experience of the Arab world. It is a wealthy country, at least along the coast nearby where the trappings of modern living mix easily with tradition. Some pilot books report that Oman does not welcome visitors. We beg to differ. Wherever we stopped to ask for directions or for help of any kind we were met with civility, kindness and great friendliness.

We enjoyed our stay

[attachment=373]Salalah_sketch.jpg[/attachment]
Approach to Salalah Port showing new mole

Port Rasut – 17°00.00'N, 54°00.00'E
1) INFORMATION SUBMITTED BY DAVID & KERRY BEARD "SKAFFIES ROMANCE"

[color=#ff0000]2) DATE MARCH 1998[/color]

3) HARBOUR OR AREA COVERED Port Rasut. SALALAH. OMAN Lat & Long 17°00’N 54°00’E approx

4) SUITABILITY AND ATTRACTION FOR YACHTS Quite suitable calm clean anchorage

5) MARINAS, BERTHING OR ANCHORAGE No marinas, safe anchorage in mud NW end of harbour.

6) ENTRY PORTS SALALAH and MUSCAT

7) FORMAL REQUIREMENTS FOR YACHTS ENTERING/DEPARTING

a) from/to same country Officials will board vessel during working hours. They require your Ships papers & passports & will issue security passes to leave the port area.. There are no charges unless you require a visa.

b) departing Go first to the police at dock gate with security passes then to Admin building, back to police post then to harbour master for your Ships papers all are in the harbour area or just outside.

c) visa requirements If you wish to travel to Muscat or overseas you must apply for a visa

9) CONTROL OF FOREIGN YACHTS Some yachts have stayed for months does; there does not seem to be a limit. 10) ATTITUDE OF OFFICIALS TO VISITING YACHTSMEN Helpful & friendly no pirates in uniform here

11) REPAIR/HAULING FACILITIES By crane only in emergency

13) PORT RADIO SERVICES VHF Ch 16 for Port Control 24hrs


15) YACHT CLUB(S) None

16) OTHER FACILITIES -

a) drinking water By Jerry Jug from ablution block or 1 rial for 1000lts by hose at dock.

b) fuel Diesel. Large quantities by Shell tanker to dock. Or from service station in jerry jugs by taxi. Some yachts shared a hire car for shopping & diesel. (12rials Per Day). The town is 8 Kms from the port. c) gas

(propane)/gaz Yes but expensive

e) bank 24hr ATM. Rate 1Rial = $2.60 US

f) shops/market Several supermarkets. Western food is expensive. Fairtrade Butcher has NZ lamb & beef at US$4.20 a kilo, also sausages & chicken. Everything is available. Vegetables in town. Kiosk at harbour sells basics and frozen chickens. & phone cards

g) restaurants/hotels In town. We didn 't eat out

h) post office/telephones Post Office & Poste Restante in town very efficient & reliable. Telephone: by phone card obtainable from the port kiosk - overseas calls very expensive

l) transport/air services) taxi to town costs $5 US . Its easy to hitch a ride to town Medical facilities/hospital Hospital . Public: out patients small charge for services. Mostly western trained Egyptian doctors. Private- English speaking