Dr. Al Nuaimi: UAE prioritizes maritime safety and implementation of best practices when dealing with ship-based marine pollution and accidents

UAE, 11 December 2019 – H.E. Dr. Abdullah Belhaif Al Nuaimi, the UAE Minister of Infrastructure Development and Chairman of Federal Transport Authority- Land & Maritime (FTA) led the opening of the ‘Regional Workshop on Maritime Agreements for Civil Liabilities and Compensations’ organized by the FTA in cooperation with the International Maritime Organization (IMO). The workshop will run until December 12, 2019 at Intercontinental Hotel in Dubai.

Representatives of seven Arab countries and 20 officials of legal agencies involved in marine environmental pollution in the UAE are participating in the workshop. During the gathering, the attendees discussed the different aspects of marine accidents, including damages and financial compensations, in line with the country’s efforts to build a safe and efficient maritime transport and establish an accessible maritime industry.

Dr. Al Nuaimi said: “We will build stronger ties with various international organizations to advance the maritime transport sector, highlight the important issues of marine pollution and maritime safety, ensure fair financial compensation during marine accidents, and effectively respond to maritime emergencies. In the UAE, we conform to the international standards and provisions of the International Convention on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage of 1969, the Protocol on Civil Liability of 1992, and the Fund Agreement of 1992. Through the workshop, we aim to take part in the formulation of practices and policies related to ship-based marine pollution and marine accidents to guarantee maritime safety.”

Dr. Al Nuaimi added: “The UAE has been proposing general policies and drafting laws and regulations to provide world-class maritime services and raise the local maritime transport sector’s efficiency and global competitiveness through the ratification of international agreements and laws.  The workshop forms part of the Authority’s efforts to implement the best practices for safe maritime activities. We reiterate the importance of cooperating with the IMO to improve the maritime transportation system and cover the damages resulting from oil pollution. This is in line with our bid to establish the UAE’s global leadership.”

IMO experts and consultants have been invited to provide their expertise during the workshop, which focuses on the implementation of the International Convention on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage of 1969, the Protocol on the Civil Liability Agreement of 1992, and the Fund Agreement of 1992. Other topics of discussions were liability agreement, marine claims, the shipwreck agreement, shipowners’ liabilities in case of marine claims, and the international agreements on ship fuel and transport of dangerous materials.

During the workshop, the participants also talked about compensations concerning marine pollution as a result of accidents as well as claim settlements and the rights of the third party in insurance coverage.