The Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation has announced the application of the latest technology to test ballast water of ships through usage of the first device of its kind in the United Arab Emirates, which examines water samples and gives results within less than a minute before discharging them into the waters of ports and marine areas in Dubai.

His Excellency Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Chairman of the Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation, stated that it requires taking measures to check ballast water before discharging it into the waters of the Emirate, to ensure that it complies with the standards of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the Ballast Water Management Convention (BWMC) adopted by the International Maritime Organization in 2004, which was approved by the United Arab Emirates, aiming to preserve the marine environment, that can be severely affected by the transfer of any unwanted objects or materials from the sites where ships docked before they reach the waters of the emirate.

Bin Sulayem explained that the new device analyzes ships’ ballast water and checks its compliance with specifications in less than a minute, through using the latest technology, with the aim of protecting the marine environment inside ports and marine areas that fall under the jurisdiction of the Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation. Before that, the process of getting samples and sending it to the specialized laboratory it took about 3 days until the result appears.

His Excellency stated that the importance of this device lies in its ability to detect microorganisms and measure their percentage when sampling ship's ballast water within one minute through a portable device that uses high-sensitivity technology to examine water samples quickly, pointing out that the Corporation has qualified the port inspectors of the Environment, Health and Safety Department through intensive training programs to use the device optimally.

The Chairman of the Ports and Free Zone Corporation stated that the ships go into the sea loaded with goods, but when they sail after unloading their cargo at their intended destination, they must replace it with an alternative cargo to ensure the ship’s balance, and the additional load here is called the ballast water, which heralding about dangerous objects or materials inside the ship’s tanks until they reach the shipping ports in Dubai, so our inspectors must check ballast water samples on those ships before discharging this water in the waters of the Emirate.

Bin Sulayem pointed to the efforts made by the Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation in the field of preserving and sustaining the marine environment, in line with government guidelines, through the optimal use of smart technologies, modern technology and innovative solutions that contribute to enhancing Dubai’s position as a sustainable leading center to support the economic sector at the global level.