A technology used to clean up ballast water in ships will be tested off the shores of Abu Dhabi as a contingency tool to limit the damage of harmful algae blooms. The experiment, due to start this summer, was conceived last year as the UAE's east coast was recovering from possibly the worst attack of the red algae, or red tide, in its recorded history.
Developed in Japan, the method was showcased to officials from the Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi (EAD) during an official visit to the country last year.
EAD is spending Dh8 million to adapt the purification system used on board ships to a land-based device.
"It could be an answer," said Dr Thabit Zahran al Abdessalaam, EAD's director of biodiversity sector. "The technology has been used in ships for a few years but this application has never been tried anywhere."
He said that in the event of another algal bloom of the same magnitude, the UAE needs to protect its desalination plants. The UAE depends on desalination plants for more than 90 per cent of its domestic water supply.
Last year's red tide, so-called because it coloured the waters off Fujairah and Khor Fakkan in the hue of dark blood, caused disruptions in desalination plants on the East Coast with production in some plants decreasing by up to 40 per cent. It is estimated to have caused losses of US$100,000 a day for the industry, according to the Abu Dhabi Water Resources Master Plan.
In order to keep balanced, ships take up a certain amount of ballast water at the start of a voyage. International regulations require vessels to treat that water before discharging it back at sea at the end of a journey. This is done so that bacteria, algae and other marine creatures inhabiting a certain area are not spread to other parts of the ocean. The land machine, developed by Hitachi Plant Technologies and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, is capable to treating 400 metric tonnes of water per hour and will be tested in Abu Dhabi in the summer.
vtodorova@thenational.ae
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Abu Dhabi – Call 999 or 8002626 (Aman Service)
Dubai – Call 800243
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'Worse than a prison sentence'
Marie Byrne, a counsellor who volunteers at the UAE government's mental health crisis helpline, said the ordeal the crew had been through would take time to overcome.
“It was worse than a prison sentence, where at least someone can deal with a set amount of time incarcerated," she said.
“They were living in perpetual mystery as to how their futures would pan out, and what that would be.
“Because of coronavirus, the world is very different now to the one they left, that will also have an impact.
“It will not fully register until they are on dry land. Some have not seen their young children grow up while others will have to rebuild relationships.
“It will be a challenge mentally, and to find other work to support their families as they have been out of circulation for so long. Hopefully they will get the care they need when they get home.”
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How to join and use Abu Dhabi’s public libraries
• There are six libraries in Abu Dhabi emirate run by the Department of Culture and Tourism, including one in Al Ain and Al Dhafra.
• Libraries are free to visit and visitors can consult books, use online resources and study there. Most are open from 8am to 8pm on weekdays, closed on Fridays and have variable hours on Saturdays, except for Qasr Al Watan which is open from 10am to 8pm every day.
• In order to borrow books, visitors must join the service by providing a passport photograph, Emirates ID and a refundable deposit of Dh400. Members can borrow five books for three weeks, all of which are renewable up to two times online.
• If users do not wish to pay the fee, they can still use the library’s electronic resources for free by simply registering on the website. Once registered, a username and password is provided, allowing remote access.
• For more information visit the library network's website.