The UAE hosted the 22nd annual meeting of the Riyadh Memorandum of Understanding Committee. Drawing the participation of representatives of maritime administrations from across the GCC countries, the 3-day meeting explored ways to enhance maritime safety and blue economy.
The meeting aimed to enhance the efficiency of ships calling on the ports of the GCC countries by strengthening compliance with international obligations for marine environmental protection, navigation safety, and the preservation of life at sea. These efforts are part of the drive to ensure the highest safety and quality standards in marine inspection and control operations.
Moreover, members explored ways to upskill marine inspectors in the Gulf states. They highlighted the importance of carrying out training programs and workshops targeting personnel responsible for inspecting foreign ships calling on commercial ports to improve the performance and expertise.
Her Excellency Eng Hessa Al Malek, Advisor to the Minister for Maritime Transport Affairs at the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure (MoEI0, presided over the meeting.
She said: “Enhancing coordination among the GCC countries in the field of maritime inspection contributes to achieving a safe and sustainable marine environment. It also ensures increased competitiveness of Gulf ports on the global level. We are committed to developing human resources and enhancing their readiness to keep up with the ongoing developments in the maritime sector, in line with the best practices and international standards.”
Captain Jaber Saif Al Shehhi, Director of Inspection and Control Department at MoEI and UAE representative to Riyadh Memorandum of Understanding, said: “The meeting reflects the commitment of the GCC countries to enhance maritime security and safety. These meetings contribute to the development of maritime inspection and control mechanisms, facilitate the exchange of best practices among member states, and strengthen the capabilities of marine inspectors through advanced training courses that ensure the highest standards of quality and international compliance. This positively impacts the maritime sector and the regional economy as a whole.”
Established in June 2004, the Riyadh Memorandum of Understanding is a regional agreement that aims to develop a system for port state control. Currently, the memorandum has six members: United Arab Emirates, Kingdom of Bahrain, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Sultanate of Oman, State of Qatar, and State of Kuwait.