• Thursday, November 01,2018

Civil Defense Launches Maritime Safety Campaign

In cooperation with its regional departments, the Civil Defense General Command in launched the Maritime Transport Safety campaign. The campaign, organized in coordination with the MoI Security Media Department, is part of the General Command’s main awareness plan for 2018, with the aim of strengthening public safety measures and spreading a culture of safety and prevention amongst community members and institutions.

Major General Jassem Muhammad Al Marzouqui, Civil Defense General Commander-in-Chief at the Ministry of Interior, said that the announcement of the "Maritime Transport Safety" campaign aims to achieve the highest levels of health and occupational safety in the maritime transport sector in the UAE. It also contributes to the implementation of public safety requirements by supporting boats and ships’ owners and operators in enforcing the necessary measures to ensure safety for all marine transport users, to protect them from injuries resulting from common sailing accidents or while standing on the quay.

The Civil Defense General Commander-in-Chief said that the regional civil defense departments have taken part in the various activities and events within the "Maritime Transport Safety" campaign, by dispatching specialized teams to distribute safety guidelines brochures to port and ship workers, including a set of guidance and advice to ships and boats’ owners and operators, urging them to follow precautionary procedures to prevent the outbreak of fires in their ships and boats, stressing the importance of having a fire extinguisher on board to be used in emergency cases.

Major General Al Marzouqui warned against making modifications and additions to boats and vessels to increase their speed, which poses significant danger to passengers’ safety and endangers the lives of others. He also warned against making any modifications to boats and ships’ electrical wirings because the slightest error may lead to damage. It is highly recommended to carry out repairs or installations at certified and approved service centers to ensure safety for all, he said.

In conclusion, he underlined the importance of strategically installing carbon monoxide detectors (also known as CO alarms) around the ship, to provide added protection against carbon monoxide poisoning or suffocation. He continued: Boats and vessels’ owners or operators must familiarize their passengers with the safety rules and regulations and instruct them on how to use the safety equipment. They also need to ensure that all individuals on board the boat or ship know exactly where the fire extinguishers are and how to use them.