UAE's Ministry of Environment and Water said it will start receiving orders for environmentally-friendly 115 hp four-stroke marine engines from August 23 to September 3, across the various fishing boat registration centres in the emirates.

 

The Ministry is offering this category of engines in recognition of the economic and social importance of the fisheries industry to the country, and in line with active efforts to reduce fishermen’s expenses and support the fishing industry to promote food safety as well as the sustainability of local production, said a statement. 

 

Marine wealth is considered a chief renewable natural resource which contributes greatly to the country’s food supply, it said.

 

Sultan Abdullah Alwan Al Habsi, assistant undersecretary, Ministry of Environment and Water, asserted the Ministry’s commitment towards enhancing environmental sustainability through its various initiatives, projects and services which are implemented in accordance to the highest standards of quality, efficiency and transparency. 

 

He added that 508 eco-friendly marine engines will be offered at half the price to fishermen, in the effort to pursue environmental sustainability. 

 

This type of engines feature a variety of specifications such as less fuel consumption which will lead to a reduction of gas emissions.

 

The Ministry has taken into account key priorities in developing new rules, standards and conditions with regards to the distribution of the engines, said Al Habsi.

 

The essential requirements include the fact that the gross salary of the fisherman does not exceed Dh30,000 ($8,165), according to the salary certificate; that the fisherman did not receive any marine engine support between 2012 and 2014; that the fisherman, or applicant, is enlisted in the Ministry’s pubic register before 2012; and that the number of recorded fishing trips from August 1, 2014 to July 31, 2015 is not less than 40. 

 

Moreover, the fisherman must not have been imposed any administrative sanctions between 2013 and 2015.

 

As part of its efforts to enhance customer service, the Ministry has also revealed that the engine will be installed on the applicant’s own fishing boat by the supplier company within 10 days from the date of payment, said the statement.

 

The company has to install the engine for free without calculating labour wages and excluding extra parts such as batteries and driving wheel, it said. 

 

The fisherman has been given a one-month period, from the date of his approval, to pay for the engine or else the request will be cancelled. 

 

In addition, the fisherman must update the engine data in the Ministry’s public register in a period of not more than two weeks from date of installation, it added. - TradeArabia News Service