Transportation and Telecommunications Ministry Under-Secretary for Ports and Maritime Affairs Bader Hood Al Mahmood said the ministry continues to modernise Bahrain’s maritime services and accelerate digital transformation across the sector.
He said the Small Vessels Registration Office processed 8,729 transactions during the first half of 2026, demonstrating the efficiency of its services for owners and operators of small vessels.
Mr Al Mahmood said the number of registered small vessels in Bahrain reached 9,636 by the end of the first half of the year, while 8,814 valid operator licences were in force.
He said the figures indicate sustained growth in maritime activity and stronger compliance with regulatory and safety requirements.
During the period, the office registered 133 new vessels, renewed registrations for 1,366 vessels, issued and renewed 3,624 operator licences, and carried out 1,499 technical inspections of boats and personal watercraft to verify compliance with approved safety and technical standards.
He added that 60.6 per cent of all transactions were completed through the Small Vessels Registration Portal, reflecting the ministry’s progress in expanding digital services and enabling customers to access them remotely.
Mr Al Mahmood said the ministry is continuing to upgrade the portal by streamlining procedures, improving the user experience, and introducing additional digital services to speed up processing, improve service delivery, and strengthen integration with other government platforms.
He said these achievements support the ministry’s wider strategy to modernise Bahrain’s maritime transport sector through digital innovation, enhance service quality, and reinforce the kingdom’s position as a leading regional maritime hub operating to international standards.
&uuid=(email))