Day: June 25, 2021

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Abu Dhabi Ports celebrates ‘Day of The Seafarer’

ABU DHABI, Abu Dhabi Ports celebrated ‘Day of the Seafarer,’ an annual day of recognition organised by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) to honour the invaluable contribution seafarers make towards international trade and the world economy.

Throughout its diverse range of clusters, Abu Dhabi Ports has prioritised the wellbeing of seafarers, recognising the importance of providing safe facilities and a full range of wellbeing services.

In addition to distributing special gifts to seafarers as a token of appreciation, the company joined several of the world’s leading ports in having ships within their harbours sound their horns in a gesture of solidarity, reviving the “Horns of Hope” initiative unveiled by Abu Dhabi Ports in 2020.

Recognising the efforts of maritime personnel, “Horns of Hope” reached more than 260 million people in over 23 countries and involved leading global and regional organisations, such as the IMO and the Arab Sea Ports Federation (ASPF).

Abu Dhabi Ports also cooperated with the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH) in launching a comprehensive campaign to allow easy access to PCR testing and COVID-19 vaccinations for seafarers.

More than 10,000 seafarers were eligible in the initiative’s first phase, which covered all Abu Dhabi Ports’ facilities, including Al Dhafra Region.

The Group also introduced new remote capabilities to eliminate human contact between port vessels and incoming ship crews, using remote pilotage and a range of intelligent shipping applications.

Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamsi, Group CEO, Abu Dhabi Ports, said: “Our seafarers serve as the unsung heroes of world trade, and they deserve our utmost respect, attention, and care. During the COVID-19 pandemic, they have played a key role in securing the smooth flow of goods and medical supplies into Abu Dhabi as normal.

“Day of the Seafarer is one of the many ways we support them and celebrate their contribution. We highly value our close cooperation with the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, which helped ensure the safety and health of seafarers at our ports and facilities.”

In addition to working closely with DoH to launch a PCR testing and COVID-19 vaccination campaign, Abu Dhabi Ports today holds a leading role within the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi’s Hope Consortium, a UAE-based public-private partnership that is dedicated to facilitating the safe and efficient delivery of billions of COVID-19 vaccines across the world.

Having already facilitated the global distribution of over 20 million doses, the Hope Consortium, comprising leading Abu Dhabi and global entities involved across the entire value chain, is overseeing the entire journey from cold storage to demand planning, digital tracking and transportation, as well as final administration of the vaccine.

For its part within the Hope Consortium, Abu Dhabi Ports is leveraging its cold chain and ultra-cold storage capabilities, which include a dedicated 19,000 square metre temperature-controlled warehouse facility in Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi (KIZAD), as well as its strategic position serving East and West trade and its robust logistical capabilities to accelerate the global dissemination of COVID-19 vaccines.

Source: Emirates News Agency

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Maritime sector playing effective role in securing food, medical supplies during COVID-19 pandemic: Minister of Energy and Infrastructure

ABU DHABI, On the Day of the Seafarer 2021, Suhail Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, stressed the paramount importance of the maritime sector in securing the UAE’s medical supplies during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Day of the Seafarer, held on 25th June every year, draws global attention to the contribution that seafarers make to world trade.

The UAE joined the international community in celebrating the day. A series of technical maritime workshops were conducted while ships in the UAE’s ports together sound their horns as a part of the ”Horns of Hope” initiative launched by Abu Dhabi Ports in partnership with the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure to show support for those engaged on the frontlines of the coronavirus pandemic.

The initiative calls on all ships in harbours around the world to sound their horns in 15-second bursts each evening, in recognition of the efforts of maritime, healthcare, and critical sector personnel, who are working diligently to ensure their respective communities remain safe and healthy.

Al Mazrouei said the maritime sector had significantly contributed to ensuring the smooth flow of supplies and enhancing the logistical services as one of the key pillars of the UAE’s strengths to secure food and medical supplies and other basic needs. “The maritime response to the pandemic underscores the UAE’s resilience and ability to address emergencies.”

The ministry had teamed up with maritime companies to repatriate seafarers during the suspension of flights and had welcomed several ships and provided healthcare to infected seafarers on board and vaccinated seafarers and other workers, he said.

“The UAE has taken proactive measures to protect seafarers and other workers in the sector,” he further added.

The UAE, he noted, is among 60 International Maritime Organisation (IMO) member states who have designated Seafarers as key workers.

As key workers, seafarers should be entitled to priority vaccination and allowed to travel without restrictions. IMO continues to urge more IMO Member States to give seafarers their due and designate them as key workers As the world slowly moves through the pandemic, it is more important than ever not only to acknowledge the efforts that seafarers have made to keeping the supply chain open despite extremely challenging conditions, but also to ensure that the future being built is one that is fair to them. This is why IMO’s 2021 Day of the Seafarer campaign has chosen the theme of “A Fair Future for Seafarers”.

In his message on the Day of the Seafarer, IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim said, “Our 2021 Day of the Seafarer campaign builds on the progress to support seafarers on pandemic-related challenges. It aims to draw global attention to all areas where fairness is important. This includes a safe, secure environment on ships, reasonable working conditions, fair treatment in all situations, as well as respect for the rights of all – regardless of race, gender and religion.”

“I am especially pleased that IMO will be amplifying the voices of seafarers themselves as they discuss what a fairer future would look like to them under the hashtag #FairFuture4Seafarers. Seafarers, we are listening – and we will make sure you are heard.”

Source: Emirates News Agency

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105,676 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine administered during past 24 hours: MoHAP

ABU DHABI, The Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) has announced that 105,676 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine were given in the past 24 hours.

The total number of doses provided up to today stands at 14,940,031 with a rate of vaccine distribution of 151.06 doses per 100 people.

This is in line with the Ministry’s plan to provide the COVID-19 vaccine to all members of society and efforts to reach acquired immunity resulting from the vaccination, which will help reduce the number of cases and control the COVID-19 virus.

Source: Emirates News Agency

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