The world’s first ever private yacht regulations have been developed by the UAE National Transport Authority (NTA) and Abu Dhabi MAR with support from DNV.
The new private yacht regulations for the UAE were formally announced at the Abu Dhabi yacht conference last week by Captain Saleem Alavi of the NTA. (see below photo)
Jointly developed by the Abu Dhabi MAR and NTA, the regulations will come into effect 1 July and are considered to be the first step in the UAE’s plans to become a major yachting hub and destination.
“We would like to give credit to Captain Saleem Alavi at the NTA for taking the initiative to develop the new regulations,” said DNV’s senior vice president Karl Morten Wiklund. “This is an important development not only for the UAE but also for the yachting industry throughout the world.”
The new yacht regulations are applicable to private yachts above 24m in length and not for yachts engaged in commercial activities. There is no restriction on the number of guests onboard. Abu Dhabi MAR is currently building the SWIFT 141 (see link) which will comply with the new regulations and sail with UAE flag.
“The UAE yacht regulations accommodate the novelty and innovation of this market segment and have been developed based on the principles of defining overall purpose and functional requirements for the safety segments covered by these regulations,” explains Omar Abu Omar DNV’s district manager. “The purpose and functional requirements are verified either by compliance with prescriptive requirements, analysis, demonstration or risk assessment.”
The UAE National Transport Authority is the designated Maritime Authority delegated by the government of the United Arab Emirates. According to Mr Wiklund the UAE yacht regulations have been submitted to IMO and its members.
“The UAE National Transport Authority trusts that these regulations will be recognised by any Flag and Port State as adequate safety and environmental standard for yachts above 24 meters as these regulations provide equivalent safety to existing IMO instruments, including all mandatory international regulations applicable to yachts and are developed based on functional requirements to accommodate the innovative and future oriented yacht industry,” said Mr Wiklund at the conference.
Link : http://www.superyachttimes.com/editorial/14/article/id/2178
The new private yacht regulations for the UAE were formally announced at the Abu Dhabi yacht conference last week. From left, DNV’s senior vice president Karl Morten Wiklund, Captain Saleem Alavi of the NTA and Johan Vajlintine, head of Abu Dhabi Mar.