As an integral part of its initiatives to save the marine environment 
The association aims to cultivate and promote an environmental consciousness within the maritime community

Dubai, UAE, March 04, 2018:   The Dubai Council for Marine & Maritime Industries has successfully announced its collaboration with the Hellenic Marine Environment Protection Association “HELMEPA” in order to establish the first of its kind non-profit “United Arab Emirates Marine Environment Protection Association- UAEMEPA”. Both parties prepared and signed a Declaration of Voluntary Commitment titled “To Save the Marine Environment”, based on HELMEPA’s founding Declaration “To Save the Seas”. 

UAEMEPA offers the opportunity, for all those who care for the environment and are interested in safeguarding it, to learn about the significance of the “marine environment' for our economic prosperity, social well-being and quality of life.

The agreement was signed during the 9th Offshore Arabia Conference and Exhibition 2018 between H.E Khamis Juma Buamim, Chairman of The Dubai Council for Marine and Maritime Industries “DCMMI” & Chairman of Offshore Arabia 2018 and Capt. Dimitris C. Mitsatsos, Secretary of the International Marine Environment Protection Association “INTERMEPA” and with the presence of H.E. Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO , Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), H.E. Kitack Lim, Secretary-General , International Maritime Organization (IMO), as well as H. E. Sheikh Talal Al Khaled Al-Sabah, Chief Executive Officer of Kuwait Oil Tankers Company (KOTC)  & H.E. Dr. Abdul Salam Al Madani, Chairman of INDEX Holding.

Commenting on the agreement, H.E Khamis Juma Buamim emphasized, “The marine environment is by nature a transboundary issue and it has to be managed through cooperation and according to integrated principles. Therefore, we aim at UAEMEPA to achieve “good environmental status” through creating, promoting and spreading safety awareness and security spirit within the maritime community.”

Buamim added, “I highly believe that today’s younger generations are tomorrow’s leaders who need to understand the importance of maritime environment. That’s why, the association is also committed to be the soft power that takes all the positive actions and better motivates the younger generations to be more responsible towards saving the marine environment.”

Capt. Dimitris C. Mitsatsos, the Secretary of the International Marine Environment Protection Association “INTERMEPA” clarified, “The Chairman, Dr George Gratsos, the Members of the Board and everyone of us in the Hellenic Marine Environment Protection Association - HELMEPA are proud of establishing for the 7th another sister association in the United Arab Emirates. As the Secretary of the International Marine Environment Protection Association-INTERMEPA, I truly hope that UAEMEPA applies soon for the membership to join MEPA.”

Members of UAEMEPA are ship-owning companies of ocean-going vessels, land-based entities dealing with the protection of the environment and concerned individuals, mainly seafarers.