National Transport Authority News

The Emirates Classification Society (TASNEEF), an initiative of the UAE’s Ministry of Defense, announced it has been accepted as a member in the Association of Asian Classification Societies (ACS) following a detailed evaluation of its technical capabilities and performance efficiency of its standards and specifications.This achievement, which comes around the same time as the UAE’s reelection to IMO Council under category B for the third time, will add immense value to the UAE’s maritime sector…

HH Sheikh Ahmad bin Saeed Al Maktoum received The Maritime Standard Special “Maritime Visionary Award” in recognition of his exceptional foresight in supporting and revitalizing the UAE’s maritime sector in his role as Chairman of Dubai World. The award was presented on November 6th 2014 at the Atlantis, The Palm Jumeirah, at a glittering ceremony where leaders representing all facets of the industry from the Middle East & Indian subcontinent were present to honour HH & recognize his exception contribution. Over 600 guests joined the function to honour HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed at The Maritime Standards Award where PR guru, journalist and writer Alistair Campbell was Master of Ceremonies & led the accolades accorded to HH.

The 6 Maritime Authorities of the Riyadh Memorandum of Understanding (RMoU) on Port State Control will launch a Concentrated Inspection Campaign (CIC) with the purpose of ensuring compliance with SOLAS Chapter II-2 and the International Code for Fire Safety Systems on board ships. This inspection campaign will be held for three months, commencing from October 1st, 2014 and ending on December 31st, 2014. * To raise awareness of fire safety related issues. In practice, the CIC will mean that during a regular port State control inspection conducted within the RMoU region, the fire safety plan, fire control measures, drills, crew awareness…

Abu Dhabi Ports Company (ADPC), says it has recently been accredited by the National Transport Authority (NTA) to conduct IALA model courses for Vessel Traffic Services (VTS) operators at its dedicated training center, making it the first maritime educational institute in the Gulf Region to offer this NTA approved training. “Being accredited to teach IALA training courses is a further example of our best practices”, says Mohammed Juma Al Shamisi, Acting CEO, ADPC. Six VTS operators…

Dubai Maritime City Authority (DMCA), the government authority charged with regulating, coordinating and supervising all aspects of the maritime sector in Dubai, has announced the establishment of the UAE-German Maritime Majlis in cooperation with the German Emirati Joint Council for Industry & Commerce (AHK), during a special Business Dinner hosted by DMCA in Dubai under the patronage and in the presence of His Excellency Dr. Abdulla Belhaif Al Nuaimi, Minister of Public Works & Chairman of the National Transport Authority. The dinner gathering was attended by H.E.

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.

Companies, organisations and individuals that have championed high standards and quality in shipping issues have been honoured in the annual Seatrade Middle East and Indian Subcontinent Awards. The awards, recognising maritime safety and the environment, ship and port operations and efficiency, security and financing, were presented at a gala dinner attended by around 600 senior executives of the region’s maritime and related industries at Al Johara Ballroom, Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai, on Thursday.

The region’s premier maritime event for specialized vessels opening Monday, 5 October 2009, is shrugging off the impact of the economic downturn with a 70% increase in the number of exhibitors and a 60% increase in exhibition space compared with last year, according to the organizers. Workboats include tugs, ferries, supply vessels; police, fire, patrol, pilot, rescue and oil spill boats; along with, dredgers, barges and floating cranes. More than 2,000 such vessels are estimated to be docked or repaired in the Middle East.

Operators of vessels off the East coast of Africa are being warned by a leading insurance expert to prepare for an increase in pirate attacks after the southwestern monsoon ends in coming weeks. “There is a temporary lull in pirate activity at the moment off the East coast of Africa…but we expect this to be just that - a temporary lull,” said William Tobin, of the not-for-profit mutual organization Shipowners’ Protection Ltd., and a leading speaker at an upcoming regional maritime conference in Abu Dhabi. “When weather conditions improve we expect an increase in activity over and above what we have witnessed in the recent past,” he added. “The lack of any law and order, particularly in Somalia, continues to deteriorate.”  The southwestern summer monsoons occur from June through September.

“While the economic downturn has taken its toll on the global shipping industry, the Middle East market for workboats of all kinds continues to show vigorous growth,” said Christopher Hayman, Chairman of Seatrade, organiser of the Middle East Workboats exhibition and conference from 5-7 October 2009 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre. Workboats include tugs, ferries, supply vessels; police, fire, patrol, pilot, rescue and oil spill boats; along with, dredgers, barges and floating cranes. More than 2,000 such vessels are estimated to be docked or repaired in the Middle East.

While the world is in the grip of an economic slowdown, the Arabian Gulf remains a dynamic growth centre for ship building and repair, said a maritime industry observer. “The region is one of the busiest commercial maritime hubs with the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Qatar having major ports and shipyards with more being built,” said Christopher Hayman, Chairman of Seatrade, organisers of the region's premier event focused on workboats to be held in Abu Dhabi later this year. Workboats include tugs, ferries, supply vessels; police, fire, patrol, pilot, rescue and oil spill boats; along with, dredgers, barges and floating cranes, with more than 2,000 such vessels estimated to be docked or repaired in the Middle East.

Regional demand for fast vessels carrying between eight and up to 300 passengers could exceed 400 over the next 10 years, said shipbuilders from countries such as the Netherlands, Turkey, Norway and Australia hoping to win a share of orders. “We are anticipating there is going to be a huge demand for passenger transport of all kinds,” said Martin de Bruijn, Middle East sales director for Damen Shipyards of the Netherlands which recently announced a joint venture with Albwardy Marine Engineering of Dubai.