Shura Council backs Bahrain-Kuwait maritime deal

TDT | Manama

Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com

Shura Council yesterday backed a draft law to ratify an agreement with Kuwait on ports and commercial shipping, clearing the way for a final vote in the next sitting.

Signed in Kuwait City on 20 October 2024, the deal sets out rules for moving passengers and cargo, ship checks, and safety at sea.

It also ensures Bahraini and Kuwaiti vessels get the same level of help if they run into trouble on the water.

Arrangements

Training is a key part of the arrangement, giving seafarers from both countries access to each other’s maritime schools at lower costs.

Council members weighed in on the agreement, with some welcoming its trade and security benefits, while others questioned the way it had been put together.

Hamad bin Mubarak Al Nuaimi, rapporteur for the Foreign Affairs, Defence and National Security Committee, said the pact would make shipping smoother and strengthen trade links.

“It will also lay down firmer safety rules, which will help draw in more regional and overseas investment,” he said.

Natural extension

Dr Ali Al Rumaihi, who chairs the committee, described it as a natural extension of Bahrain and Kuwait’s long-standing ties.

“This is not just a political or diplomatic matter,” he said. “It is a bond of kinship, one that comes with a duty to support national fleets, improve port operations, and ensure rights are upheld through proper legal frameworks.”

Abdulla Al Nuaimi pointed out that the deal had been signed by Bahrain’s Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications and Kuwait’s Ministry of Interior — two departments with very different remits.

“There is no like-for-like balance here,” he said. “How can this be handled by a foreign minister when those with direct responsibility are not involved? Such agreements should be drawn up by those who will put them into action.”

Concerns

Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, His Excellency Ghanim Al Buainain, responded to these concerns, explaining that each country determines which body signs an agreement based on its own internal structure.

“In Bahrain, the Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications was the relevant authority, while in Kuwait, the Ministry of Interior was chosen according to their internal system and the scope of their departments,” he said.

He also clarified that responsibility for international agreements lies with the state, not just the signing ministry.

“A foreign minister is authorised to sign all international agreements on behalf of the country, and in some cases, ambassadors may be delegated to do so,” he said. “Ministers, including the Minister of Interior, can also authorise the foreign minister to sign agreements, particularly when they fall within their ministry’s remit.”

International law

Ali Al Aradi weighed in on how these pacts work under international law.

“Bilateral deals are signed by foreign ministers on behalf of their governments,” he said. “But putting them into practice falls to the bodies in charge of that area.”

Dalal Al Zayed asked for details on training, pressing the government on whether there were dedicated maritime centres in Bahrain and whether professional qualifications would carry the same weight as academic degrees.

Petroleum transport

Bader Al Mahmood, Undersecretary for Ports and Maritime Affairs at the Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications confirmed that training was a key part of the agreement, pointing to Kuwait’s advanced fleets, particularly in petroleum transport.

“This is a valuable opportunity for Bahraini maritime workers to train on Kuwaiti vessels and exchange expertise in maritime training,” he said.

He acknowledged that neither Bahrain nor Kuwait had dedicated national training centres but noted that maritime education was available in the Gulf