ADPC applies phase-out schedule for old oil tankers
Abu Dhabi, UAE: In its continuous endeavor to protect the environment and guarantee safety in all of its ports, Abu Dhabi Ports Company (ADPC), the master developer of ports and industrial zones is, in line with international maritime regulations, firmly applying a phase-out schedule for old oil tankers.
ADPC's phase-out schedule has been designed in addition to the phase-out schedule already implemented by the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL 73/78).
ADPC is advising all port customers and potential port visitors that entry will be refused to oil tankers older than 30 years of age. While oil tankers which exceed 28 years of age will be refused entry from 1 January 2014, and the same rule will apply to oil tankers older than 25 years of age, from 1 January 2015.
Commenting on the implementation of the phase-out schedule, Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, Acting CEO, ADPC, said:
"Maintaining a clean and safe environment around our ports is our top priority at all times. This is a reminder to shipping traffic that as a responsible port owner and manager ADPC strictly monitors the sea traffic and will refuse port access to oil tankers that do not comply with our policy.
"With this initiative we are not only acting in our role as a major maritime institution following the requirements of the National Transport Authority (NTA), International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the Department of Transport in Abu Dhabi, but also in our role as a responsible corporate citizen protecting Abu Dhabi's beautiful waters and landscape."
The phase-out schedule, which has already been communicated to ship-owners, operators, agents and charterers earlier this year, is a reaction to old oil tankers which are repeatedly entering Abu Dhabi waters and, due to their poor condition, threaten the environment and safety at sea.
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What is MARPOL? - the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, known as MARPOL was adopted by the IMO in 1973 click here for more details.
About ADPC
As a master developer and regulator of ports and industrial zones in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, ADPC's core objective is to facilitate the diversification of the economy by stimulating development and trade, following Abu Dhabi's Economic Vision 2030.
ADPC manages eleven commercial, logistics, community and leisure ports, including its flagship state-of-the-art, deep-water Khalifa Port. ADPC supports partners' infrastructure projects and sets up new companies and joint ventures in the ports and industrial zones sectors.
ADPC is also developing Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi (Kizad). Located adjacent to Khalifa Port, Kizad serves a range of logistics and manufacturing investors, and is destined to grow into one of the world's largest industrial zones.
The company's AED 26.5 billion (USD 7.2 billion) flagship Khalifa Port and Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi (Kizad) has been designed to be flexible to reflect market needs.
Kizad was launched to market in 2010, and the whole of Khalifa Port was inaugurated on 12/12/12 by UAE President HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The port's semi-automated container terminal was launched on 1 September, 2012. Khalifa Port is now handling all of Abu Dhabi's TEU container traffic, after its transfer from Zayed Port, the historic port in the city centre.
Phase One of Khalifa Port has a capacity of 2.5 million TEUs, plus 12 million tons of general cargo. Further phases of development will occur as market demand requires. With all phases complete, Khalifa Port will be able to handle 15 million TEUs and 35 million tons of general cargo per year.
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For more information, please contact:
Akram Kanso
Media Relations Specialist| Corporate Communication
PO Box 54477 Abu Dhabi, UAE
Telephone +971 (0)2 695 2982
Mobile +971 (0)50 4260365
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© Press Release 2013
