In recognition of its partners’ support for maintaining smooth and safe maritime traffic in Dubai, the Dubai Maritime City Authority (DMCA) recently organized an annual meeting of partners to discuss navigational aids at Raffles Hotel. The meeting highlighted the importance of unifying efforts to ensure increased implementation of navigational aids in accordance with the international agreements and the Executive Council Decision No. 63 of 2016 issued by H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council.

Amer Ali, Executive Director, DMCA, praised maritime entities concerns in Dubai for maintaining navigational aids in compliance with local laws and global conventions. He reiterated DMCA’s commitment to sustain smooth and efficient maritime traffic management in Dubai. With strong focus on the safety aspect, the Authority said it would employ tools for secure tracking of ship movement and enhanced emergency response, in line with Dubai’s bid to become one of the world’s best maritime capitals.

The Authority has already put in place maritime navigation lights and the Automatic Identification System (AIS) to provide accurate navigational assistance, give approval for ships to sail, dock, and move to and from new ports, which enhance navigational safety and operational efficiency in Dubai waters.

Mohammed Khalifa Al Huraiz, Director of Waterway Control, DMCA said: “Maritime traffic regulation in Dubai’s new projects is in line with DMCA’s efforts to implement the best practices for safe maritime navigation. We emphasize the importance of cooperation between DMCA and our strategic partners in applying these practices in the hope of cementing Dubai’s leadership on the global maritime community.”

He added: “We aim to ensure safe navigation by using the latest  technological innovations and advanced information and communication systems to avoid collision of ships and assist them in obtaining the necessary information about the location, direction, speed, world time, and registration number from the International Maritime Organization. This is in line with our continuous efforts to improve the performance, safety, efficiency and competitiveness of the local maritime community, develop an integrated and safe maritime environment, and attract regional and international investors.”

The navigational aid in Dubai include the basic and side buoys, safe water floats, and private and hazardous area buoys, among others. (See attached infographic).