Italian Navy ship calls on Port Sultan Qaboos

Muscat: The “Thaon di Revel” vessel of the Italian Navy called on Port Sultan Qaboos in Muscat in the framework of EMASOH – the European-led Maritime Surveillance Mission in the Strait of Hormuz.

In the presence of Commodore Tariq Al Raisi, Acting Commander of the Royal Navy of Oman and Omani officials, the Ambassador of Italy, Federica Favi, the Operational Commander of EMASOH, Counter Admiral Emmanuel Slaars, and Rear Admiral Stefano Costantino, Commander of AGENOR, the maritime component of the mission, hosted a reception on board to highlight the international efforts to contribute to the freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.

The event was attended by the representatives of the countries of the area, as well as by of those joining the operation, with the aim of promoting an inclusive dialogue and cooperation between all the countries in a region which is key for world trade and energy supply.

From July to December, Italy is leading the maritime operation, providing state-of-the-art vessel Thaon di Revel and its crew.
Since its inception in January 2020, EMASOH mission aims at ensuring free navigation and the free flow of global trade in the Strait of Hormuz, in full compliance with the international laws of the sea.

By promoting a broad-based cooperation, the European countries involved in this multinational mission – Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Norway, the Netherlands and Portugal – contribute to the security and stability of the region, focusing on the prevention of accidents or possible crises that could determine significant repercussions at the trans-regional level, not only economic, but also socio-political in the context of the articulated framework of international relations.

The operation comes as an effort to restore confidence after the incidents that took place around the Strait of Hormuz in the last few years, which had affected the freedom of navigation and the security of European and non-European vessels and crews in the area.

In full accordance with international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the mission provides enhanced maritime awareness and surveillance through the deployment of additional maritime surveillance assets in the Gulf and Arabian Sea. At the same time, EMASOH’s diplomatic track, embodied by the EMASOH Senior Civilian Representative, aims at identifying ways to contribute to de-escalation of tensions in the region.