Oman on Saturday unveiled the world's fastest diesel-powered passenger ferry that would link capital Muscat with Khasab in Musandam Peninsula from Wednesday, according to a report published today by the Jeddah-based Saudi Gazette. “The high-speed ferries have been introduced on this route basically to promote remote areas, providing services and easing movement of equipment without going through borders,” Mehdi Al-Abduwani, chairman of the National Ferry Company (NFC), told media on board 65-meter-long catamaran - Shinas - on Saturday during its soft launch. He also revealed that NFC would overall run five such ferries. “There would be two ferries in the north (linking Khasab with Muscat), two in the South (linking Halniyat Island with Salalah) and the third ferry would link Masirah Island with Shannah in the east. Khimji Ramdas Shipping Division have been given the rights to market the services. Al-Abduwani stressed that the ferry service would be made available to all categories of passengers, including Omani citizens, expatriate residents as well as tourists. --MORE
