Bahrain

The Ports and Maritime Affairs (PMA) directorate of the Ministry of Transport & Communications plays a pivotal role in regulating, developing, and promoting the ports and maritime sector in Bahrain. mtt.gov.bh/directorates/ports-and-maritime

All ships intending to enter any port facility within Bahrain ports should provide (in addition to normal ship's arrival information) the following:

All ship owners, shipping companies, shipping agencies and concerned parties are requested to furnish Bahrain Port Authority with notice 72, 48 and 24 hours prior to ship's arrival.

Bahrain port facilities will work at Security Level 1 at all times unless otherwise informed of any change of the security level.

In cases where a ship may be operating at a higher security level that the port facility it is visiting, the Ship Security Officer (SSO) should advise the Port Facility Security Officer (PFSO) without delay. The PFSO should undertake an assessment of the situation in consultation with the SSO and agree on appropriate security measures with the ship, which may include completion and signing of a Declaration of Security (DoS). Any costs entailed in additional security measures would be settled by the ship.

The Kingdom of Bahrain has communicated to the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) all the required information with respect to:

The RSA is defined as extending between the following geographic positions:

The area is the largest recipient of ship's ballast water. Annually, more than 50,000 vessels visit this area and discharge a large amount of ballast water. The RSA is a semi-enclosed water body with intensely hot summers and short cool winters, extensive air and water temperature fluctuation and relatively high salinity. It is also characterised by high turbidity and low exchange of water with open waters. Therefore, there is also a need to manage and control the spread of harmful aquatic species in ship's ballast water by implementing a set of measures such as ballast water exchange outside the RSA.

With effect from 1 November 2009, all ships, regardless of flag, will be required to exchange and treat all ballast water taken up outside the RSA for the Protection of the Marine Environment.

This comprises the states of Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Taking into consideration the provisions of the Regulation B-4 of the Ballast Water Management Convention , the following points should be observed.

Ballast water, that has been treated with a ballast water treatment system approved in accordance with IMO standards, does not need to be exchanged.

Ships will be required to have on board an approved Ballast Water Management Plan in accordance with the IMO standards. Ships should also have and maintain a Ballast Water Record Book.

From the date specified above, all the ships passing Strait of Hormuz will be required to complete the Regional Ballast Water Reporting Form (RBWRF). The ships will be inspected by the Port State Control Officers to ensure these regional requirements are fully implemented.

For further assistance contact the local Agent, respected Port Authority or MEMAC as the Regional Centre at [email protected] at the earliest opportunity.

Dress conservatively in public places, especially religious sites.

Bahraini law doesn’t criminalise same sex-activity between consenting adults who are at least 21 years of age, although sodomy is illegal. Bahrain is a liberal country compared with most others in the region, but many Bahrainis hold conservative social views. There are some reported cases of individuals punished for same-sexual activity, but in practice arrests for homosexual behaviour are relatively rare.

Terrorists continue to issue statements threatening to carry out attacks in the Gulf region. These include references to attacks on western interests, including residential compounds, military, oil, transport and aviation interests as well as crowded places, including restaurants, hotels, beaches, shopping centres and mosques. You should maintain a high level of security awareness, particularly in public places and report anything suspicious to the local authorities. You should be vigilant at this time.

Demonstrations and protests take place regularly. These activities may include attempts to disrupt traffic, protests in villages and near economic centres, burning tyres, throwing Molotov cocktails, and the use of improvised explosive devices. As a result there could be clashes between government security forces and protesters. Anniversary dates of significant events in Bahrain experience a higher volume of protest activity. As a result there could be violent clashes and targeting of security forces. Historic trouble-spots where such incidents have taken place include Sitra, Bani Jamra, Karbabad, Saar, Karzakan, the Budaiya Highway and surrounding villages. These protests could erupt at any time without warning. You should remain vigilant and be aware of your surroundings wherever you are on the island. Violent protests pose a risk to those who might inadvertently find themselves near to an active demonstration. If you encounter a large public gathering or demonstration, leave the area immediately. If you see any suspect item, do not approach or touch it. Move away and call the police on 999 or the Police Hotline 8000 8008.

Travel on the main routes during daylight hours is generally orderly. There are some police checkpoints. In September 2012 the Ministry for the Interior issued a warning about explosive devices on major highways.

Developments in Syria, Iraq and on the Middle East Peace Process continue to have an impact on local public opinion in the region. You should be aware of local sensitivities on these issues. Follow news reports and be alert to local and regional developments, which may trigger public disturbances.

Female visitors should take care when travelling alone at night. You should use one of the reputable taxi companies.

Although alcohol is available at Bahrain airport, security officers and airline staff deal firmly with passengers believed to be drunk - even those who are in transit through the airport. You may be denied boarding, detained and fined.

Evidence of a previous visit to Israel like an Israeli entry/exit stamp in your passport doesn’t normally cause any difficulties when entering Bahrain. It is, however, for the Bahraini authorities to determine the right of entry into the country.

Business visitors should bring a letter of invitation.

If you are currently a resident of Qatar, you will require a visa to enter the Kingdom of Bahrain; visas can be applied for online, www.evisa.gov.bh You should attach a copy of your Qatari residency card to the application. Failure to obtain a visa in advance will result in a refusal of entry into Bahrain.