Tag: UAE

To ensure the safety of cruise ships arriving in Dubai Dubai Maritime City Authority (DMCA), the maritime government entity charged with regulating, coordinating and supervising the maritime sector in Dubai, has announced the establishment of a cruise ship task force in line with its continued efforts to ensure the safety of cruise ships arriving in Dubai and to reinforce Dubai's preparedness to deal with potential maritime accidents.The cruise ship task force has been established in collaboration with Dubai Tourism & Commerce Marketing (DTCM).DMCA further revealed that it is intensifying maritime inspections to ensure that cruise ships comply with maritime standards and to create awareness among ship owners and cruise operators about the need to improve the performance of cruise ships according to best practices in the industry.Hamad bin Mejren, DTCM Executive Director for Business Tourism, said:"Dubai is keen to adopt best practices related to the safety of cruise ships, in line with international standards and norms. DTCM has partnered with DMCA as part of our commitment to ensure that cruise trips from Dubai will set a global standard in terms of safety and readiness to handle various eventualities, as well as to provide world-class logistical and technical support to the ...

UAE Government has issued instructions The UAE Government has issued instructions regarding restrictions on certain flagged vessels entering UAE waters.The following instructions are for vessels registered in the following countries for entry into UAE Ports:AlbaniaBelizeBoliviaTongaCosta RicaGhanaGeorgiaMaldivesMauritiusSao Tome & PrincipeSt. Vincent & GrenadinesHonduras.Vessels flying the above flags are restricted from entering UAE Ports, waiting at anchor or sailing in territorial waters unless they carry a valid classification certificate issued by any of the following members of the International Association of Classification Society (IACS):Lloyd's Register of Shipping (LR), United KingdomNippon Kaiji Kyokai (NKK), JapanBureau Veritas (BV), FranceGermanischer Lloyd (GL), GermanyDet Norske Veritas (DNV), NorwayAmerican Bureau of Shipping (ABS), USARussian Register of Shipping (RRS), RussiaKorean Register of Shipping (KR), KoreaChinese Register of Shipping (CRS), ChinaRegistry Italiano Naval (RINA), ItalySource: GAC Hot Port News Bulletin

A journey to Africa could cost more than US$80,000 in insurance and security costs Piracy is threatening the UAE's coastal economy as attacks are being staged following a brazen and successful ship hijacking outside Salalah Port in Oman.The Fairchem Bogey, managed by Anglo-Eastern Ship Management, based in Mumbai, was seized on Saturday as it was awaiting berthing instructions. All 21 Indian sailors on board were taken hostage.Tim Stear, the global head of maritime security for control risks based in Dubai, said attacks off the coast of Oman could endanger the gulf maritime industry, which includes cruise ships, superyachts and marine transportation."A year ago there was a view that you could sail into the Arabian Gulf without having to encounter problems if you were coming from the Maldives, for example," he said. "But it has all brought it home now that this is not an 'off the coast of Somalia' problem. This is also an Arabian Sea problem."The attack on a ship so close to the Omani coast and in the Sultanate's coastal waters is one of the most audacious raids on a maritime vessel and a sign that hijackers are becoming more daring, even as intergovernmental task forces have deployed ...

The UAE's position is seen as a key import and re-export hub The UAE's position as a key import and re-export hub, has seen its ports in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Fujairah and others handling increasing amounts of container traffic, as demand for goods and services throughout the region rises. According to recent estimates, the amount of container traffic handled by UAE ports in 2010 was 11.6 million TEU, up four per cent over the previous year. The performance of the region in the second half of 2010 saw a return to peak levels previously seen in 2008 with 6.1 million TEU handled in the six month period.Large-scale developments underway in the region, such as the mega terminal project in Jeddah, which will double existing capacity to 15 million containers annually by 2020, are set to transform the current scenario in the near future. Another mega-development that is sparking tremendous interest regionally is the ongoing construction of the multi-billion dollar world-class deep water port at Meesaid in Qatar.Increasing globalisation and international trade is spurring the demand for greater transport, logistics and communications facilities the world over. This has fuelled the drive to create improved facilities such as ports, air terminals, ...

South Korea to provide counter-piracy training The UAE has invited specialist naval forces from South Korea to provide counter-piracy training as part of efforts to boost its defences against the growing high-seas threat.About 10 underwater demolition troops will arrive in mid-July, supplementing 130 Korean "Ahk" special forces already stationed in Al Ain to provide antiterrorism training, said Col Romano Lee, the defence attache at the South Korean embassy in Abu Dhabi.South Korea successfully freed a ship from Somali pirates in January - an event that left an impression on the UAE, a South Korean defence official told the South Korean Yonhap news agency.In January, its navy commandos rescued the South Korean cargo ship Samho Jewellery, which had been hijacked in the Arabian Sea en route from the UAE to Sri Lanka.All 21 Samho Jewellery crew members survived, including the captain, though he suffered a serious gunshot wound. Eight pirates were killed, while five were captured and now face trial in South Korea.The announcement of the arrival of the 10 Korean troops' arrival comes just days after Abu Dhabi received a Turkish naval delegation to do exercises related to counter-piracy.South Korea and Turkey participate in a multinational counter-piracy group called the ...