Ongoing efforts between the public and private sector to help lay the foundations for maritime safety

04 August 2019. Dubai, United Arab Emirates: Dubai Maritime City Authority (DMCA) recently concluded a meeting of the Maritime Advisory Committee. The meeting, which was attended by maritime stakeholders from both the public and private sectors, included key discussions on how to provide full support in the ongoing efforts to maintain the highest global maritime safety standards in Dubai's territorial waters while also placing strong focus on the move to enhance readiness and responsiveness of newer maritime facilities. The meeting reflects the DMCA's continued commitment towards strengthening cooperation and coordination in establishing the foundations of maritime safety as a top priority and a key pillar for improving the competitiveness of the local maritime cluster.

Captain Khamis Weld Ghumail, Director of Maritime Traffic Management at DMCA, emphasized on the importance of the meeting as it serves as an ideal platform for strengthening coordination and cooperation between the government and private sectors, particularly in the move to elevate technical and technological readiness of maritime safety in accordance with federal and local laws and regulations. He reaffirmed the DMCA’s commitment towards ensuring that maritime operations are managed in accordance with the highest standards of professional safety and global best practices—resulting in a safe, sustainable, and diverse marine cluster in Dubai that is globally competitive and attractive. Weld Ghumail also expressed the DMCA’s support for the Maritime Advisory Committee in their efforts to review and update search and rescue procedures in local territorial waters, which is part of the move to consolidate Dubai's leading position as one of the best maritime capitals in the world.

'The meeting of the Maritime Advisory Committee enabled us to identify important preparations of the maritime facilities while reviewing and adopting the tasks of the Maritime Safety Committee. We were also able to tackle ways on how to further develop search and rescue procedures within the territorial waters of Dubai. These meetings represent part of our continuing efforts to ensure the highest levels of maritime safety based on solid foundations of innovation, technology and efficiency under the supervision of qualified human personnel—all directed in achieving an integrated marine sector that is renewable, sustainable and has the ability to drive economic diversification in the UAE. We have the responsibility to strengthen fruitful cooperation with the government and private sectors to ensure the integration of maritime safety, safe navigation and operational efficiency along local coasts, thereby enhancing Dubai's competitive potential and consolidating the competitiveness, attractiveness and inclusiveness of the components of the maritime cluster, which has become one of the best in the world.' He added.

The meeting also covered discussions on latest mechanisms that support efforts aimed at raising the level of maritime safety in Dubai's territorial waters, as well as highlighting the importance of providing marine consultancy services to encourage all kinds of offshore facilities in adopting best practices. Also discussed were ways on how to connect the businesses related to running ports with other vital maritime sectors to serve the growth, development and sustainability of marine cluster components.