Bahrain: INCREASED risk of pollution connected to a sharp rise in the number of ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz has prompted Bahrain-based experts to seek a change in international maritime law.
Nearly a third of the world’s oil traded by sea passes through the strategic strait, but a reluctance by countries to grant territorial water access to ships in distress could exacerbate a potential environmental disaster at sea.
The Bahrain-based Marine Emergency Mutual Aid Centre (Memac) has now asked the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) to provide additional places of refuge for such vessels.
Details of the request have emerged ahead of meetings on Marine Environmental High Risk Areas (MEHRAs) and Place Of Refuge (POR) project organised by Memac, IMO and UK-based risk consultants Anatec today in Doha.
“Memac had requested the IMO to alter this international decision (to deny access to ships) so that it would be suitable and respond to the requirements of our member states,” said Memac director Captain Abdulmunem Al Janahi.
“We have agreed with IMO to have an IMO expert carry out a survey of the coastal areas of the region in co-operation with specialist fellows from member states.
“This would enable us to identify all marine and sensitive coastal areas so that the international decision can be altered and the appropriate operational mechanism set up.”
He emphasised it was of “high importance” for international legislation to be amended to preserve coastal and marine sensitive areas for future generations.
“Our region faces tremendous challenges from navigation and marine traffic as the number of ships visiting our region is rapidly increasing,” he said.
“We observed the movement of ships in the last five years, monitored, analysed and submitted the information.
“(We did this) for appropriate action to be taken to avoid pollution incidents in the future.”
He said the number of ships passing through the strait had increased by 75 per cent from 10 years ago.
“Last year, for instance, the number of ships passing the Strait of Hormuz was 49,830 ships of different types and sizes,” Captain Al Janahi said.
“Ten years ago, it was 28,500 ships.
“By studying different surveillances, it has been noticed that the number of oil tankers and tankers carrying chemicals has increased dramatically.”
He pointed out the number of ships of different sizes visiting the region had also gone up from 139,865 in 2014 to 153,278 last year.
Meanwhile, he said there was 17.5 million barrels of crude oil leaving the Strait of Hormuz every day.
Meanwhile, MEMAC information and training officer Dr Abdulmajeed Al Balochi explained the role of the organisation in preventing an environmental disaster. “MEMAC is a co-ordinating body that works with different focal points in each country in the GCC region,” he said.
“Whether it’s pollution, oil and chemicals or someone lost at sea, we are informed by the coastguard immediately in any emergency.
“We then check the radar to see what the issue is, where the winds are headed and inform the necessary people and relevant countries’ coastguard.”
The meetings in Doha will continue until Thursday.
laala@gdn.com.bh
&uuid=(email))