Bahrain authorities have carried out a joint maritime inspection campaign aimed at checking compliance with licensing and safety requirements while also reviewing the legal status of expatriate workers employed in marine-related activities.

The campaign was led by the Coast Guard in cooperation with several government bodies, including the Nationality, Passports and Residence Affairs, the Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce and the Labour Market Regulatory Authority.

Inspection teams operated in waters around Sa’ada Waterfront and Bahrain Bay, focusing on vessels, marine transport operators and businesses providing passenger services in the area.

One of the main areas of inspection was maritime safety, with teams checking whether required safety equipment was available on board vessels and whether Automatic Identification System devices were properly installed and operating.

Authorities also verified the validity of boat licences and captain licences as part of the campaign, ensuring that vessels and those responsible for operating them were legally authorised to carry out their activities.

Marine transport companies licensed to provide passenger services were also inspected, with authorities checking the validity of commercial licences and compliance with the regulations and conditions governing their operations.

The campaign extended beyond vessels and business licences to include checks on expatriate workers employed in the inspected activities, allowing the participating authorities to verify whether workers were operating under valid and appropriate legal permissions.

During the inspections, authorities identified cases involving unlicensed workers, highlighting the continued enforcement focus on preventing employment outside the legal framework and ensuring that foreign workers hold the required permits.

Bahrain’s labour regulations require expatriate workers to obtain the appropriate work permit before engaging in employment, while employers are also required to comply with the rules governing the recruitment and employment of foreign workers.

The joint operation reflects continued coordination between Bahrain’s relevant authorities to strengthen oversight of maritime activities and ensure compliance with safety, commercial, residency and labour requirements.

Businesses operating in marine transport and related services are therefore expected to keep licences valid, comply with safety rules and ensure that all workers employed in their operations hold the permits required by law.

Bahrain authorities continue to carry out coordinated inspection campaigns across different sectors as part of efforts to regulate the labour market, protect public safety and take action against violations detected during field inspections.