Regional maritime sector faces challenging times

"We are operating in challenging times," said Captain James MacHardy, the former CEO of the Society of International Gas Tanker & Terminal Operators, who will be chairing the region's premier event focused on workboats to be held in Abu Dhabi later this year.

"Never has the shipping industry, in all its sectors, had so many factors working for it or against it," he added.

The 2009 Middle East Workboats exhibition and conference takes place from 5-7 October at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre under the patronage of HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister for Public Works and Chairman of the National Transport Authority. Workboats include tugs, ferries, supply vessels; police, fire, patrol, pilot, rescue and oil spill boats; along with, dredgers, barges and floating cranes, among others.

"The boom and burst cycles we live through are exciting and for many provide the spice in shipping," said MacHardy who, on retiring after nearly 40 years with BP Shipping, MacHardy became CEO of the society, a London-based trade organisation linking shipping companies and terminal operators in the liquefied gas industry. His main interest now is the promotion of the marine industry as a career for young people and the continuance of the safety record of the industry.

"For Middle East Workboats we have tried to bring together the principal areas of challenge and concern in our industry and at the same time reflect on all aspects, both the good and the bad, in the present financial climate," he added.

Several areas of concern affecting the industry will be addressed and two principal ones are personnel and piracy.

"There is a serious lack of competent seafarers throughout the shipping industry and probably more so in the small vessel sector," said MacHardy.

According to Seatrade, organisers of Middle East Workboats, the source of skilled manpower is diminishing even as the provision of quality training increases. In addition, the immigration regulations of a number of regional countries, including the UAE, are posing major challenges for workboat operators.

"The issue of piracy is serious, expensive and dangerous but little talked about outside the marine industry,"

MacHardy added.

The Gulf of Aden and the Somali coast is currently the piracy hotspot. There are around 34 naval vessels from 16 countries operating off the Somali coast to deter piracy but pirates continue to hold 10 boats and 190 seamen for ransom.

"The loss of life, loss of cargo and loss of vessels goes on daily on a worldwide basis but industry organisations and the world navies seem powerless," said MacHardy.

Middle East Workboats will also feature speakers on marine products, vessel design, construction and operations.

Principal sponsors for 2009 are DNV, ESNAAD, Irshad. Other sponsors are ABS, DVB, Khalid Faraj Shipping, Lamnalco, Svitzer, Topaz Energy & Marine, Wartsila and ZMI. Supporting organisations are the International Marine Contractors Association and the Royal Institution of Naval Architects.