Royal Navy of Oman
| Royal Navy of Oman | |
|---|---|
| البحرية السلطانية العمانية | |
Naval Ensign of Oman | |
| Founded | origin 807 CE. formal 1650 CE. 1970 (official) |
| Country | Oman |
| Type | Navy |
| Size | 4,200 personnel |
| Garrison/HQ | Muratafat Al Matar Muscat |
| Colors | Blue and Yellow |
| Equipment | 5 corvettes 12 patrol vessels 3 amphibious warfare vessels 2 auxiliary ships |
| Insignia | |
| Naval Ensign of Oman | |
The Royal Navy of Oman (Arabic: البحرية السلطانية العمانية), abbreviated RNO, is the maritime component of the Royal Armed Forces of the Sultanate of Oman. Given its long coastline and strategic location along the Indian Ocean, as well as being close to the Strait of Hormuz, the Royal Navy is one of the priorities of the government of Oman. It has a fleet of gunboats, fast missile boats and support, training, cargo and hydro-graphical survey vessels, which can be deployed to defend the territorial waters and coastline of Oman as well as protect tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz. The Royal Navy's headquarters are in Seeb, near the Muscat International Airport. A modernization program is ongoing, with the objective of creating a first-rate fleet. Similarly, the Royal Oman Police's fleet, which operates smaller range boats and patrol crafts, is being updated due to raising tensions in the region.
The origin of the Royal Navy of Oman is traceable to the reign of Imam Ghassan bin Abdullah (807–824 CE). He was the first ruler of Oman to possess a navy, with a standing royal navy of Oman being formally established in 1650.