*Signs Seafarers Protection Deal as well

Foreign flagged tankers carrying crude oil and products in the ports and waters of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have to be less than 25 years old, UAE’s Federal Transport Authority (FTA) said.

In addition, the ships in question need to be double-hulled, classed by a classification society which is a member of the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS) or emirates classification society (TASNEEF) in order to load or discharge their cargo.

Furthermore, the said tankers need to be constructed or adapted primarily to carry crude oil and products in bulk.

FTA has been very busy over the past year with activities aimed at bringing order to its maritime sector and meeting of international standards in various fields including protection of seafarers.

The announcement comes on the back of FTA’s prescription of manadatory insurance for seafarers working on all ships flying the UAE flag trading internationally, and all ships operating in UAE waters above 200 gross tons.

The insurance relates to cases of abandonment, death or injury of seafarers and covers up to four months’ owed contractual wages and entitlements.

The measure, being introduced as the country readies to ratify the Maritime Labour Convention 2006, is set to enter into force on February 20, 2018, FTA said.

Meanwhile, the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Federal Transport Authority (FTA) agreed to work together to protect the rights of all seafarers operating in UAE waters.

The parties signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the matter at the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) in London.

“This is a significant opportunity to work with our partners in the UAE to bring seafarers and workers’ safety to forefront of the conversation. This agreement is just the beginning and will hopefully pave the way for similar agreements in other territories. We are keen to work for greater cooperation, in all areas of transportation.”Stephen Cotton, ITF general secretary, said.

This is the first agreement of its kind between a government authority and the ITF. The parties are committed to working closely together and sharing information to provide comprehensive and timely support to vessels and seafarers in need within UAE waters.

“This agreement allows us to consult, cooperate and coordinate jointly and continuously to find legal solutions regarding the abandonment of seafarers aboard ships, by ship owners and operators, and to work together to combat and prevent the occurrence of this phenomenon in the future,” Abdullah Belheif Al Nuaimi, minister of infrastructure development and chairman of the FTA board of directors, said.