Under a joint effort to enhance the safety of Abu Dhabi’s waterways, Abu Dhabi Maritime and Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) have signed a five-year waterways safety agreement.

The agreement seeks to exchange information, data and expertise concerning the regulation and management of maritime activities, infrastructure developments and facilities across Abu Dhabi’s waterways.

Both Abu Dhabi Maritime and ADNOC will implement monitoring, risk-mitigation, business continuity and crisis management systems through coordinated development plans, maritime activities, as well as marine traffic and infrastructure projects within Abu Dhabi’s waters.

Captain Saif Rashid Al Mheiri, managing director of Abu Dhabi Maritime, said: “Abu Dhabi Maritime’s cooperation agreement with ADNOC is another important step in boosting our emirate’s position as a global maritime centre by promoting sustainability as a critical driver in achieving economic success.

“Working closely with a leading and a highly accomplished national driver of economic activity such as ADNOC, allows our maritime community to optimise environmentally friendly and efficient rules and regulations to govern the safe passage of maritime traffic within our ports and across our waterways.” 

Captain Jasim Al Khamiri, senior vice president for the Petroleum Ports Authority unit at ADNOC, commented: “The measures outlined in the agreement will assist Abu Dhabi Maritime in fulfilling its mandate to provide an effective maritime regulatory environment – one that is responsive to the needs of Abu Dhabi’s maritime community and backed by state-of-the-art services, infrastructure, health, safety and quality standards.”

Abu Dhabi Maritime, formed in late-July by Abu Dhabi Ports, part of ADQ, through an agreement with the Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT), is the UAE’s dedicated custodian of waterways and marine ecosystems.

Source; Seatrade Maritime