Dubai Maritime City Authority (DMCA), the government authority charged with regulating, coordinating and supervising the maritime sector in Dubai, has initiated the Dubai ‘Maritime Sustainability Program’ (MSP).

The programme is an extension of Dubai’s government vision for sustainable growth across all economic sectors while maintaining a sustainable future for the maritime industry in the emirate, said a statement.

The MSP, which will take place in collaboration with the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy and DP World, is focused on understanding the impact of shipping on the environment, people and the future.

Several new modules developed in line with the Dubai Strategic Plan will be added to the programme over the next five years by DMCA and will be implemented in coordination with other public and private sector partners.

The groundwork for the programme was initiated in 2011 with the launch of the Sulphur Oxide Emission Reduction Campaign for Ocean Going Vessels (OGV).

Sultan Bin Sulayem, chairman of Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation and president of DMCA, said: “The MSP initiative is targeted at strengthening the UAE’s maritime industry and will complement the larger Dubai Maritime Sector Strategy.

“By adopting practical steps to undertake some of the sector’s greatest challenges relating to social and environmental performance, DMCA’s new initiatives, along with the schemes that are already in place, will promote sustained growth of the shipping industry and ensure that it continues to play a valuable role in the nation’s economy.”

The DMCA commenced the Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) in 2012, which was developed to facilitate proactive interactions between ships and ports to increase the efficiency of managing the feeder approaches to the port.

This programme also helped lower the risk of pollution and navigational accidents by enabling a transparent process for ship routing. - TradeArabia News Service