Adnoc and Abu Dhabi Maritime sign safe waterways agreement

The pair agree to exchange information on regulating and managing marine activities and infrastructure

Adnoc's Shah vessel provides pilotage and towage services to the company's petroleum ports. Courtesy of Adnoc

Abu Dhabi National Oil Company and Abu Dhabi Maritime signed a five-year agreement to help keep the emirate's waterways safe.

The two organisations will exchange information, data and expertise on regulating and managing waterways, as well as on existing facilities and infrastructure development.

“Working closely with a leading and a highly accomplished national driver of economic activity such as Adnoc allows our maritime community to optimise environmentally friendly and efficient rules and regulations to govern the safe passage of maritime traffic within our ports and across our waterways,” Abu Dhabi Maritime's managing director Capt Saif Al Mheiri said in a statement on Sunday.

Abu Dhabi Maritime was set up in July last year to streamline governance of the emirate's maritime sector following an agreement between the Department of Municipalities and Transport and ports operator Abu Dhabi Ports. It is owned by state holding company ADQ.

Adnoc operates its own dedicated petroleum ports in Jebel Dhanna, Ruwais, Das, Zirku and Mubarraz and plays a significant role in the emirate's maritime sector.

“We are pleased to work in partnership with Abu Dhabi Maritime as we aim to secure safe waterways and to ensure sustainable traffic flow, particularly for products from the oil and gas industry,” said Capt Jasim Al Khamiri, senior vice president for Adnoc's Petroleum Ports Authority unit.