Kuwait Ports Corporation officials said a decision has been taken to allow the entry of stranded ships to unload their cargo but not until the entry permits are issued to them by the Maritime Transport Sector of the Ministry of Communications.
A local Arabic daily said the sector has promised to issue the entry permits tomorrow. In a special statement to the daily, the Kuwait Ports Authority (KPA) is not a party to the delay in the entry of the eight ships, and that the matter is related to the non-issuance of the permits by the Ministry of Communications allowing these ships to enter according to the procedures.
An unidentified KPA official said the authority has not prevented the entry of any licensed vessel, and that what specifically happened was that the vessels were suspended for some time because they did not have permits to enter, the permits that should have been issued by the Maritime Transport Sector at the Ministry of Communications.
The sources stated that after the port officials intervened to provide a quick solution, the Minister of Commerce and Industry, Fahd Al-Sharia’an was informed who promised to issue the permits. However, the port officials were surprised at the lack of quick action.