Dubai Maritime City Authority (DMCA), the government authority charged with regulating, coordinating and supervising all aspects of Dubai’s maritime sector, is set to implement mandatory marine craft driving license in Dubai effective January next year.

The regulation has been designed to offer a more comprehensive regulatory platform that will help ensure maritime safety, secure navigation and operational efficiency along the UAE coastline, said a statement.

The initiative is aimed at helping in the move to promote the local maritime sector and Dubai’s development as one of the world’s most prominent marine centres.

It is considered a fundamental pillar in the DMCA’s move to create an integrated regulatory framework to provide safe navigation and to ensure the highest levels of operational efficiency and safety within the marine waters of Dubai, it said.

Amer Ali, executive director, DMCA, said: “Regulating and developing the local maritime sector is top priority for DMCA, which is why we regularly introduce regulations and legislations to address local requirements in line with best international practices.

The application of Resolution No 2 of 2013 for marine crew licensing reaffirms the efforts aimed at integrating all aspects of maritime safety and operational efficiency across local waters, in cooperation with the parties concerned.”

“Under this new initiative, users of marine crafts will be granted a grace period to help them complete the necessary requirements in obtaining the marine craft license. The DMCA will be launching a series of awareness campaigns and ads in newspapers in Arabic and English, in addition to doing outreach over the radio in Arabic, English and Hindi,” said Ali.

The new regulation also falls in line with the Authority’s efforts to organise and classify UAE marine crafts and has also been designed to offer a more comprehensive regulatory platform that will help ensure maritime safety, secure navigation and operational efficiency along the UAE coastline—thereby reinforcing Dubai’s leading position as a first class international maritime hub.

Ali Al Dabbous, executive director of Operations at DMCA, said: “The application of Resolution No 2 of 2013 requires licensing for crew on personal, business, sports, tourism and recreational marine crafts, including small and large-sized leisure craft, commercial marine vessels and traditional wooden dhows. It is prohibited to use any marine craft within Dubai’s territorial waters unless he/she holds a certified driving license from Dubai Maritime City Authority.”

All applicants must be medically fit and have the theoretical, practical knowledge and expertise to drive light marine vessels, abras and leisure crafts, said the statement.

The crew members on commercial and traditional wooden dhows must be completely familiar with the marine radar and communication systems and navigation maps, in addition to being able to use the various equipments for safety, first-aid, public safety, fire fighting and water pollution, it added. - TradeArabia News Service