Maritime risk management seminar to be held in city from Friday

The seminar is being organised by Arabian Maritime and Navigation Aids Services (AMNAS) in cooperation with the Directorate of Maritime Affairs in the Ministry of Transport and Communication and International Association for Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities (IALA).

The 'IALA Risk Management Seminar’ will focus on maritime risks like collisions between ships in congested areas and port approaches, and grounding. Fifty delegates including researchers, from 11 countries including Turkey, India, Senegal and Bahrain will participate, beside officials from local ports, colleges and government bodies.

Addressing a press conference on Monday, Khalil al Balushi, general manager, AMNAS and the national representative of IALA said, “Oman's maritime interest is growing through projects like the Duqm Port and Sohar Free Zone. One of our aims is to become a council member of IALA, which currently has 15 members.” 

PAWSA (Port and Waterways Safety Assessment), IWRAP (IALA Waterway Risk Assessment Programme) and a simulator technique are usually used to assess risk, he said, adding that maritime risk management in the Strait of Hurmuz will be discussed as a local case study. “Our role is to ensure that Omani waters are safe for mariners,” Balushi said.

“In case a ship sinks at a particular spot in regional waters, our job is to mark that place so that other vessels can recognise and avoid it. Automatic International System (AIS), which serves as a virtual aid for navigation, enables us to monitor any dangerous spot in our office itself.”