The Dubai Maritime City Authority (DMCA) has officially launched a handbook titled ‘The Dubai Powerboat Handbook’, as part of its ongoing commitment to develop, organise, promote and build a robust and safe maritime industry.

The initiative aims to develop guidance services, as well as highlight the best ways to take advantage of safety and security practices and techniques when using different means of marine transportation within territorial waters, a statement from the Authority said.

The handbook is particularly useful since it is was drafted in collaboration with the Royal Yachting Association, in order to develop comprehensive regulations and guidelines, as well as integrated maritime laws in accordance with international standards and best practices.

It includes in-depth information about the structure and nature of how a boat’s engine works, and laws and regulations regarding manoeuvring, operation, traffic, anchoring and speed, as well as information about navigation systems, marine buoys, maritime areas of activity, best practices concerning helicopter search and rescue operations and planning, boating knots, boat towing techniques, maritime safety standards, emergency response procedures, life-saving signals, and marinas in Dubai.

The book also contains weather-related information and instructions on how to deal with harsh marine conditions, restricted visibility and night boating. It pays special attention to the environment, highlighting the best international practices in protecting the marine environment and aquatic life and reducing emissions in the maritime sector, complementing plans aimed at creating a robust and safe maritime industry in line with the Dubai’s maritime strategy.

Ali Al Dabbous, executive director of operations at DMCA, highlighted the importance of the handbook as one of the key strategic initiatives that complement the ongoing efforts to develop, organise and promote safety and security within the local maritime sector.

“It will play an important role in supporting efforts to raise the level of maritime safety, which in turn represents a vital pillar to boost investor confidence in the local maritime sector, which offers numerous investment opportunities and prospects for sustainable growth, thus contributing directly to Dubai’s gross domestic product (GDP) and enhancing the emirate’s competitiveness.”

“The number of boats within the territorial waters has increased steadily in line with the growing status of Dubai as a major global maritime hub,” Al Dabbous added. “Therefore, it is imperative to develop marine guidelines that raise awareness of how to best deal with various aspects of environmental security and maritime safety, which are considered one of the key pillars for achieving sustainable marine development.”

“There is no doubt that the Dubai Powerboat Handbook will help in significantly raising public awareness on the importance of using safety equipments when handling powerboats, and following the instructions, laws and preventive measures to avoid potential accidents.”

The Dubai Powerboat Handbook is available for free for marine transportation users and can be obtained from DCMA’s office in Dubai. – TradeArabia News Service