RIYADH: In a bid to enhance environmental sustainability and preserve marine ecosystems, the General Authority for Ports, also known as Mawani, has signed an agreement with the Saudi Investment Recycling Co. to combat oil spills.
This collaboration includes creating facilities for waste reception and recycling and providing assistance in tackling such disasters.
The agreement, signed on the sidelines of the Saudi Maritime Conference in Dammam from Sept. 20-21, also aims to maintain the long-term sustainability of waste recycling from all ships, assist with response operations, and combat dangerous substances in the seas.
Furthermore, it encourages cooperation in satellite-based monitoring, modeling and surveilling solutions to protect the marine environment.
The agreement also aims to find effective approaches to handle marine waste and safeguard the seas.
This approach will consequently boost economic and investment incentives for forthcoming opportunities emerging from the initiatives and projects of SIRC.
Mawani is actively carrying out an environmental strategy for the maritime and port sectors, and this agreement demonstrates its commitment to sustainability, new technologies and effective measures to counter marine pollution.
Yousuf bin Mohammad Al-Hassan, vice president for oversight, policies, and legislation at the authority, and Abdulrahman bin Mohammad Al-Obeid, deputy CEO of SIRC, signed the agreement.
Mawani President Omar bin Talal Hariri and SIRC CEO Ziyad Mohammed Al-Shiha were also present at the event.
Moreover, experts from Saudi Arabia’s maritime and logistics industries participated in the conference, highlighting the Kingdom’s ports’ critical services and prospects in local and international contexts.
In August, Mawani signed a partnership agreement with the Dutch Port of Rotterdam to enhance cooperation in developing smart ports and human capabilities while exchanging experiences and knowledge.
The deal supports Mawani’s initiatives to increase Saudi ports’ worldwide competitiveness in partnership with the National Competitiveness Center.
Additionally, it fits well with the authority’s efforts to promote and help the ports, logistics services and maritime transport industry.
Both parties will work together to improve Saudi ports’ operational and logistical performance through the marine environment protection agenda and the green ports program.
