Response Task Force News

Dubai Maritime City Authority (DMCA) conducted an evaluation meeting to analyze the results of the recent Ship Board Fire Drill conducted on Serenade of the Seas a cruise ship currently berthed in Dubai’s Mina Rashid Cruise Terminal. The meeting saw extensive participation by representatives from the entities involved in the drill, where they looked into the performance and strengths of the Cruise Ship Emergency Response Task Force and pointed out areas requiring further attention in order to maximize safety for both passengers and crew. The evaluation is part of broader efforts by public and private entities to improve emergency procedures and promote maritime safety standards, in line with a common vision to promote a safe and highly developed maritime industry in Dubai.

Dubai Maritime City Authority (DMCA), the government authority charged with regulating, coordinating and supervising all aspects of the maritime sector in Dubai, has announced that the Cruise Ship Emergency Response Task Force, convened in September, 2011, to address the challenges presented by the introduction of ever larger cruise ships to the UAE waters, hosted the first cruise sector mass casualty table top exercise and drill last week. The Task Force, comprised of federal and local emergency responders…

Residents and businesses along the Ohio River in Beaver County, Penn., will soon see a new Boston Whaler 25-foot Guardian on patrol. More than $3.4 billion worth of goods is transported through the county annually via the river. A recent risk assessment exercise revealed that law enforcement was not adequately equipped to handle a crisis on the waterway. Crime-related or emergency incidents historically have been handled by non-local response teams, which significantly increased response times.

"Never in the history of the maritime industry have so many port states become involved in a casualty and imposed so many unilateral rules - without consultation with the industry and without the cause of the accident being properly investigated," he said. "Ships trade worldwide and need a common set of rules. Great difficulty for international shipping will result if these precedents are followed by other port states worldwide. Dr Payer said there appeared to be nothing to stop any port state hijacking the handling of a casualty and ignoring internationally agreed IMO Conventions, as well as brushing aside the customary role of masters, owners and flag states and time-honoured maritime practices and traditions.