RTA delegation visits Australia to review marine registration and licensing systems

Sultan Mussabah Al Kutbi, Director of Registration & Licensing Dep't at RTA Marine Agency said that the visit aimed to review the best global practices applicable in the field of registering & licensing marine modes, as well as drivers & operators in New South Wales at Sydney, and in Brisbane at Queensland.

"During the visit the delegation reviewed operations of a host of marine transit modes such as the water taxi and ferry. The visit also included institutes specialized in training & qualifying boat drivers, as well as customer service centres specialized in licensing & registering various marine modes.

"RTA team reviewed the applicable registration and licensing programs, marine legislations & statutes, inspection and violation code, and enforcement & monitoring systems. It also visited the stations operating the ferry & water taxi as well as relevant control room.

"This visit is viewed as a gateway for a lasting cooperation between RTA Marine Agency and Australia, particularly noting that Dubai is on the threshold of giant marine projects. This requires provision of various marine mass transit modes to keep abreast of maritime property developments taking place in Dubai" added Al Kutbi.

RTA visiting delegation submitted recommendations together with lessons learned from the visit, including the possible incorporation of these aspects in the new registration & licensing system of RTA Marine Agency; which will soon come to light.

RTA Marine Agency delegation consisted of Masoud Mohammed Hashem - Director of Registration & Licensing Dep't at RTA Marine Agency, who headed the delegation, Isam Al Faheem - Manager of Technical Inspection Section at RTA Registration & Licensing Dep't, and Hussain Al Saffar - Director of Marine Projects Dep't at RTA Marine Agency.