Dubai: Maritime authorities in Dubai are working to improve safety measures aboard dinner cruise boats in the emirates to boost marine tourism.
Charged with safety and environmental stewardship of Dubai’s waters, Dubai Maritime City Authority (DMCA) said on Sunday that it is launching an inspection campaign of floating restaurants to ensure compliance with proper standards.
Dinner cruise operators are also being encouraged to register their maritime operations under the framework of the ‘Cruise Logbook’, a standardised record book that helps owners unify vessel operation documentation.
The measure enhances the management and technical competencies of maritime operators to improve safer operations.
Abdullah Bintouq, Senior Maritime Inspection Director, DMCA, said in a statement that floating restaurants are a key segment of the investment landscape of Dubai’s tourism and maritime industry.
“We have established a clear framework for ensuring safe and secure maritime operations in the emirate of Dubai through our continuous campaign which monitors the adherence of floating restaurants to the stringent standards of the Maritime Sector Strategy (MSS) aimed at creating a vibrant and secure maritime industry.” said Bintouq.
He reminded dinner cruise operators to comply with ‘Cruise Logbook’ regulations and accurately log all necessary information to be later scrutinised by DMCA officials who ensure safety standards are being followed.
The latest campaign is among others focusing on training procedures for emergency situations and evacuation of vessels, emergency response and enhanced crew and vessel readiness, the proper use of life jackets and rafts and emergency exits, and defining of escape routes for emergency evacuations.
Ongoing campaigns will also focus on effective prevention of and combating fires as well as procedures for addressing marine pollution caused by oil compounds.
