Ferries
In July 2008, The National Ferry Company of Oman introduced a high-speed ferry service between Port Sultan Qaboos in Muscat and the port of Khasab in the Musandum peninsular.
The Musandum area is famous for its dramatic landscapes; spectacular fjords and jagged mountains are a stunning backdrop for the pristine white beaches. Khasab Fort is a popular place to explore and tourism is increasing weekly as the region gains a reputation for its natural beauty.
The Muscat – Khasab journey is the longest fast ferry route in the world and covers a stretch of 225 nautical miles.
There are two ferries dedicated to this route – Shinas and Hormuz. These are identical 65-meter catamarans, each having the capacity to carry 208 passengers and 56 cars.
The service operates twice a week during the summer months and three times a week in the winter. The journey will take you around 5 hours, depending upon the weather conditions and prices for a return trip start from RO 44 for an adult.
On Thursdays, the company operates a sunset cruise around the Muscat coast, lasting 2.5 hours, with passengers enjoying an on-board meal. Passengers may book tickets online via the company website or through a travel agent.
The National Ferry Company of Oman has proudly announced that the two ferries have broken existing world speed records in November 2010. Shinas reached a speed of 55.9 knots with Hormuz beating that at 56 knots. The record was broken during the auspicious time of the 40th Oman National Day celebrations.
