UAE Consolidates Position as Leading Maritime Centre of the World
The UAE has consolidated its leading position among the best
maritime centres in the world. It has become one of the influential countries
in developing the maritime industry.
The UAE’s practices, decisions and legislations have
contributed to developing the sector and enhancing maritime safety standards,
as well as protecting the marine environment globally.
In 2017, the UAE was elected to the International Maritime
Organization (IMO) Council under category B and was re-elected in 2019. The UAE
is seeking re-election for the third consecutive time. Election will take place
from 6 to 15 December 2021 in London.
The UAE aims to continue its active role in strengthening
maritime legislation and regulations to serve the shipping sector and
international trade.
Commenting on the UAE’s role in the International Maritime
Organization, H.E. Suhail Mohamed Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and
Infrastructure, said: “The UAE is one of the key maritime countries worldwide
and has achieved many records in global competitiveness indicators in the
maritime sector.
"It was ranked 3rd globally in transport services trade
and in Bunker Supply Index. It ranked fifth globally as a key competitive
maritime hub. The UAE’s ports rank among the top 10 internationally in the
volume of container handling.
"The UAE ports handled over 15 million TEUs during
2020, while there were over 25,000 port calls in the UAE during 2020.”
His Excellency added: "Through the UAE membership in
the IMO Council, we continue to work with member states to advance the global
maritime sector and the shipping industry through a collective contribution to
the IMO’s mission of achieving the safety, security and efficiency of maritime
transport in clean oceans."
H.E. Hassan Mohamed Juma Al-Mansoori, Undersecretary for the
Infrastructure and Transport Sector at the Ministry of Energy and
Infrastructure, said: "The UAE’s seaborne trade and transhipment efforts
cater to about two billion populations from China, India, and the Gulf States to
Eurasia and all the way to Eastern Europe.
"The UAE is committed to uphold its responsibility
towards participating in establishing a sustainable platform for sharing
know-how knowledge among maritime nations and administrations on best
practices, and adding value to the technical and legal discussions held at the
IMO.”
H.E. Hessa Al Malek, Advisor to the Minister for Maritime
Transport Affairs, UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, said: “The UAE is
one of the countries in supporting and empowering women in all fields,
especially the maritime sector.
"It contributed in drafting the IMO Assembly Resolution
A.1147 (31) 'Preserving the Legacy of the World Maritime Theme for 2019 and
Achieving a Barrier-Free Working Environment for Women in the Maritime Sector'
which was adopted at the thirty-first session of IMO Assembly in 2019.
"The UAE currently holds the presidency of the Arab
Women in Maritime Association (AWIMA), in cooperation with the IMO Technical
Cooperation Programme, in supporting women in the maritime sector to achieve
the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly the fifth
goal in achieving gender equality and empowering women.”
Protecting the marine environment
The UAE has contributed in works to prepare and implement
the IMO initial strategy on reducing greenhouse gas emissions from ships and
will continue its support towards the development of follow-up actions plan and
the fourth IMO-GHG study.
The UAE contributed significantly to protecting the marine
environment and helping the shipping sector to the IMO legislation to reduce
sulphur oxide emissions by providing new, low-sulphur fuels at an affordable
price.
In addition, the UAE has aligned its National Maritime
Strategy with the IMO Strategic Plan for the six-year period 2018-2023.
The UAE is also a founder member of the Riyadh Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) to achieve safe, secure and efficient shipping in the
maritime jurisdictions in the Arabia Gulf region.
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