The Minister of Infrastructure Development, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Federal Authority for Land and Marine Transport, Dr. Abdullah bin Mohammed Balheif Al Nuaimi, revealed that the Council of Ministers commissioned the Commission to work on updating the current maritime commercial law No. 26 of 1981, in order to follow up the development of internal legislation. The marine environment in the country, to match the status reached by the State in the global maritime community, as a member of the Maritime Organization Council in category "B", which is expected to be completed by the end of this year.

Al-Nuaimi said that "the Commission conducted in the first stage of preparation of the draft law, a field study, to limit the problems of the maritime field, by hearing all the complaints of workers in the sector, whether in the private or governmental sectors. .

The prevailing thought at the drafting stage of the draft law was that the new law should not be limited to the limits of current maritime trade law, but that it should codify the legal rules regulating all forms of exploitation of the marine environment in the State and should include direct and indirect support for all areas affecting The growth and prosperity of this vital sector, so the new draft law «Maritime Law», not «draft law».

Al-Naimi explained that the drafting stage of the initial draft of the law continued for more than two years. The Commission is keen to make comparisons in all parts of the law with developed countries in maritime transport. , And other laws of other countries, and sent the draft draft law to all relevant federal and local authorities, and held a workshop in this regard, and began some of the responses in the comments, and await responses from the rest of the bodies, the Commission to proceed with the completion of the rest of the procedures Constitutional and legal requirements for the promulgation of the law.

In addition to this, the new draft law is in line with the aspirations of the leadership in supporting investment and provides a range of investment incentives for those wishing to invest in the sea. As well as the registration of ships under the flag of the State, as well as the establishment of a marine development fund, to support the citizens of the State wishing to invest in the maritime sector, whether financial support or guidance and guidance, and also carried out an update of the rules of the mortgage in order to encourage financing, Hand to settle disputes arising from maritime investment between the investor and the views of management of marine navigation sector, through the committees of dispute resolution centers body state, the largest and activation of the systems of the peace and conciliation and arbitration, to accelerate the adjudication of disputes, relieve pressure on the courts.

The new project included a proposal for the establishment of a Maritime Navigation Chamber to represent the private interests of ship companies and owners, and to become a member of the International Chamber of Maritime Navigation.

It also carried out the texts of the new project to enable the Authority and the ports of the State and the rest of the competent authorities to confront the problem of abandoned and abandoned ships in the territorial waters and greater protection of seafarers' rights and the requirements of marine education and training.

For example, the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships 1973 and its amendments to the 1978 Protocol and Protocol 1997, the International Convention on Civil Liability arising from the Damage of Oil Pollution 1992 and its amendments, The International Convention on Compensation for Oil Pollution Damage 1992 and its Amendments, the International Convention on the Treatment, Intervention and Cooperation on Oil Pollution 1990, as well as the International Convention on the Control of Harmful Impurity Control Systems 2001, International Convention for the control and management of ballast water and sediment in ships 2004.

Dr. Abdullah Belheif Al Nuaimi:

«Creating a door full of marine investment and incentives for investors».

Wide update

The new draft law includes a broad update of the traditional rules of maritime legislation, such as maritime collision, assistance, insurance and the rules for the carriage of goods and passengers, as well as the introduction of new provisions and definitions for many maritime law personnel such as maritime agents, Freight forwarders, all of the provisions and rules introduced in the new project.