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Marine pollution poses problems in Fujairah

FUJAIRAH — Marine pollution has become the single most alarming problem for the Fujairah Port. A problem that it shares with other eastern beaches. A problem that has been having an adverse effect on many activities including tourism and the fishing industry.

Officials of the Fujairah Port have been using different strategies to fight marine pollution, and has worked on some safety measures in cooperation with the Fujairah Municipality, environmental institutions and the people in general to ensure a clean environment — an environment that would promote investment and the welfare of the people.

There are several sources of pollution.

Captain Musa Mourad, Director-General of the Fujairah Port, said that the main reason for marine pollution was the big ships that sail the Arabian Gulf coming through the Hurmoz narrows, as well the ships that are berthed, in the waiting areas opposite the port.

The pollution could be either oil pollution or pollution from dumped solid sediments, and liquids.

Capt. Mourad said the most dangerous sort of marine pollution was the balance of water remaining in ships that berthed at the port and which was dumped into the seawaters. He advised all ship captains not to empty their ships of the balance water in front of the eastern coast. "All petroleum stations should check whether ships that carry petrol have delivered the balance water and the solid sediments to certain stations that have applied safety measures in accordance with the Marbol agreement," Capt. Mourad said.

Capt. Tamer Masoud, Director of the Marine Department of Fujairah, said that "all petroleum carriers should have the relevant marine documents and authenticated certificates in order to identify the proficiency of the management".

These certificates have been mandatory to all petroleum carriers of more than 500 tons weight since 1998. These international certificates included those for freight weight, safety of equipment certificate, radio-telecommunication certificate, the insurance document and the international certificate for prohibiting oil pollution.

As for monitoring the pollution, Captain Masoud said there was a separate area for carriers filled with dangerous materials for emptying oil. All ships should also have with them international certificates for berthing.

"We have five small boats that roam and check whether the carriers are legal or not," he said. Eventually, all the official bodies do their best to save the environment from dangers.