MUSCAT: The Royal Navy of Oman organized an official reception for the ship Shabab Oman II at Port Sultan Qaboos in Muttrah here the other day. Shabab Oman II participated in races and festivals and visited many international ports as part of its sixth international voyage to the European continent with a message, Oman, the land of peace, which came In implementation of the lofty orders of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces and under the patronage of Sayyid Taimur bin Asaad Al Said, Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Central Bank of Oman.

The ceremony began with the military salute of Sayyid who inspected the front row of the guard of honor and as the ship approached its berth and matched, the Marine Arts Troupe of the Royal Navy of Oman performed a number of traditional marine arts with a visual presentation of the voyage.

At the moment of anchoring the ship, the captain of the ship invited Sayyid and the guests to board Shabab Oman II and met its crew and congratulated them on their achievements. Sayyid and the guest reviewed the awards won by Shabab Oman II.

A number of top officials of the Sultan’s Armed Forces and other military and security agencies, members of the State Council, governors, ambassadors and a number of military attachés at the embassies attended the function.

Shabab Oman II is the Sultanate’s ambassador for friendship and peace which travelled around the world took 196 days, visited a number of ports and countries, travelled a record 16,805 nautical miles while visiting 18 countries, docked 25 ports and crossed 30 stations. At least 172,235 visitors visited it during the voyage.

It participated in many maritime festivals and international competitions, and won big and small achievements.

The most notable award was for the best ship, in the Festival of Launching the Longest Sailing Races 2022 held in Esbjerg, Denmark. Shabab Oman II was awarded with the ship that traversed the longest distance.

In the port of Harlingen, Netherlands, Shabab Oman II won the award for the best ship in the long-distance sailing race and the International Friendship Award for Longshore Sailing Races, which is one of the highest honour.

Rear Admiral Saif bin Nasser Al Rahbi, Commander of the Royal Navy of Oman, said: “Today we celebrate the arrival of Shabab Oman II from its sixth international voyage with a message Oman, the Land of Peace. The International Friendship of Long Dhow Races for 2022 and the ship was also able to achieve the message of friendship, peace and love between the peoples it visited.”

Lieutenant Colonel Marine Issa bin Salim al-Juhouri, commander of the RNV Shabab Oman II, said: ” Shabab Oman II arrived home after a cruise that lasted six and a half months, during which it visited 30 stations in 18 countries in the Asian and European continents, achieving all the goals set for this trip, the most important of which is the Oman 2040 vision, within the integrated work with the relevant stakeholders.