Fishing, Fish Farming & Eating Fish in UAE

The National has recently posted an article that will make your mouth water and get your salivary glands working.

Fishing is a different game in the Arabian Sea and this article gives a thumbnail description of the main varieties—hammour (the UAE’s favourite fish), biah, helwayoo, safi, kingfish, silver pomfrey and sobaity.

Check out this article because most importantly, there are some tips on how to cook these fish (whether you hook them in or buy them from the fish market).

This article also focuses on the problem of over fishing and alludes to fish farming in Fujairah that produces up to 2,000 tonnes per year, with more facilities in the pipeline.

Link: James Brennan, ‘Plenty More Fish’, The National, 13 May 2008.

Dr. Geoff Pound

Image: How’s this for a hammour? The link to this web site (which is about fishing in the UAE) and it is in French.

Further Fish or Fishing Articles:
Fujairah Fly-fishing capital of the UAE, FIF, 15 November 2007.
Fujairah: Salt Water Fish Capital of the UAE, ETE, 3 June 2007.
Fishing in Fujairah, ETE, 27 April 2007.
Dead Fish, Oil and the Fujairah Beaches, ETE, 12 April 2007.

Fujairah: Gearing Up for Tourist Boom

An Emirates Business 24-7 article describes the way the different emirates (including Fujairah) are gearing up to cope with the growing tourist boom in the UAE. Here is a snippet from Karen Remo-Listana’s article, 24 May 2008:

“Fujairah has between 1,500 and 1,600 hotel rooms and is aiming to increase its capacity to 5,000 in the next five years. The Fujairah Government allocated Dh2.94bn in 2006 for the development of tourism over five years. One of the biggest moves was building a 76km road costing an estimated Dh1.2bn to connect Fujairah to Dubai. The highway is expected to open by the end of this year. The establishment of the new Creativity City, the enhancement of the facilities at Fujairah Airport plus entertainment facilities and shopping malls are expected to further stimulate tourism.”

Dr. Geoff Pound

Image: One of Fujairah’s popular landmarks—the Coffee Pot Roundabout, Faseel. This is very near the Hilton Hotel.

Fujairah: Trashing Beautiful Environment

Vesela Todorova has an article in The National (22 May 2008) entitled, ‘Fujairah Wadis Choking on Waste’. It begins:

“Visitors are leaving between 260 and 840kg of rubbish per square kilometre at popular recreation sites each week, a Sharjah-based scientist has estimated.”

“Sandra Knuteson, the assistant professor of environmental science at the American University of Sharjah, collected and measured rubbish – including plastic bottles, glass, aluminium cans, paper, food wrapping and nappies – discarded at two popular wadis in Fujairah and Hatta.”

“‘Littering happens everywhere, but trying to regulate it is important,’ she said. ‘In other parts of the world, there is a big fine for dropping litter.’”

There is more to read in the article at this link.

Newspapers and blogs often cover articles on Fujairah’s sensational beauty but all too often there is a need to write about the trashing of our environment.

Dr Geoff Pound

Extra:

UAE Managers

UAE Expats

UAE Roads & Traffic

UAE Women

Fujairah at DH18,000 a night

Reena Amos Dyes has written an article for Emirates Business 24-7 describing the luxury penthouse at Fujairah’s Le Méridien Hotel.

More than Dh18,000 a night! How does one sleep when you are thinking about paying the bill the next day?

Check out this article and all the mod cons before you decide how many nights you want to book in this Royal Suite.

How does one get a Hotel/Resort journalist job that requires spending a weekend in luxurious surroundings researching these articles?

Link: Reena Amos Dyes, ‘Royal Treatment in Fujairah’, Emirates Business 24-7, 22 May 2008.

Dr. Geoff Pound

Image: The inside of what must be the most expensive hotel room in the Emirates (there are plenty more rooms at Le Méridien or elsewhere going for lower rates).

Fujairah: ‘So Much to See Here!’

Journalist for The National, Tala al Ramahi, has written a great article on the delights of the United Arab Emirates, especially Fujairah and the East Coast.

Here is a taste of Tala’s reflections after getting out of the Abu Dhabi office to show a friend the whole country:

“A three-hour drive to Fujairah, two weeks ago, provided me with enough evidence that I did not need to travel far to witness beauty on a par – if not surpassing – that which I have seen in places I could reach only through a long (and dehydrating) plane trip.”

“Fujairah’s geography, particularly, the mountainous terrain that lines its 90 kilometre coastline, brought flashbacks of my trip to Waikiki, Hawaii’s most famous beach. Not only were the similarities uncanny, but I was also pleasantly surprised you did not have to pay hefty hotel entrance fees to gain access to the crystal-clear waters of Al-Aqah beach. And while divers I met have constantly praised the rich marine life of the emirate, it took a snorkelling trip around Snoopy Island to make me realise they were not exaggerating.”

“Equally moving, I thought, was one of the wonders of the north to be found just a couple of minutes drive from Al Aqah beach: Al Bidya mosque, a mud structure built in the 15th century, making it the oldest mosque in the country.”

Tala’s final words are these: “Do not forget that this country has more to offer, historically, culturally and environmentally.”

To see the entire article follow this link, ‘So much to see here – and I just didn’t know’, The National, 20 May 2008.

Dr. Geoff Pound

Image: “Fujairah’s geography, particularly, the mountainous terrain that lines its 90 kilometre coastline, brought flashbacks of my trip to Waikiki, Hawaii’s most famous beach.”

Extra—Recent Articles at Experiencing the Emirates

UAE Report on Human Trafficking

Masdarize the Entire UAE

The Road: The Most Dangerous Place in the Emirates

New Steel Plant for Fujairah

A newly proposed steel plant in Fujairah will be one of the top ten new steel production projects in GCC countries.

This amounts to a staggering investment value of USD 9.5 billion.

The Sojitz Corporation Steel Plant is the Fujairah project at a cost of USD 1 billion. This is a plant that will turn iron ore pellets into steel billets with a capacity of 1.5 million tonnes a year.

To read more about the top ten steel projects planned for the GCC countries follow this link:

SteelGuru News, 20 May 2008.

Dr. Geoff Pound

Image: Steel billets.

Extra—Recent Articles at Experiencing the Emirates

UAE Report on Human Trafficking

Masdarize the Entire UAE

The Most Dangerous Place in the Emirates

Fujairah Growth at Expense of Fujairah Environment

In a wide-ranging and interesting interview with Gulf News, Eng Mohammed Saif Al Afkham, the deputy director of the Fujairah Municipality, speaks about the improved infrastructure (roads and drainage) and the growth in the Emirate’s tourism, recreation facilities, real estate as well as the forthcoming Al Hillel city, which will comprise residential, business and commercial strands.

It was heartening to read that twice in the interview the Deputy Director stressed the commitment of the municipality to ensure that the economic development of Fujairah was not at the detriment of the environment.

Eng Mohammed Saif Al Afkham said, “On marine pollution, we work closely with environmental clean-up companies who make recommendations on methods of keeping a watch on polluters and ways of dealing with oil spills.”

The three oil spills that have occurred in the last two months indicate that the municipality’s initiatives are insufficient and are not working effectively. The growth of the oil industry in Fujairah is significant but the trio of oil spills is endangering other industries including tourism, hotels, recreational sports and fishing.

The municipality’s close work with clean-up companies and detection groups is to be applauded. It would be good, however, for the public to learn more about the new recommendations and the steps that are being taken to prevent the pollution of the beaches and destroying the marine environment.

Source: Fuad Ali, ‘Fujairah Gears Up for Rapid Growth’, Gulf News, 20 April 2008.

Earlier reports of oil spillages in 2008:

Oil Damages Fujairah beaches, Marine Life and Tourism, February 2008.
Further Oil Spillages, March 2008.

Further commentary and solutions are offered in an article entitled: ‘Monitor the Oil Tankers and Keep our Beaches Clean’, The National, 11 May 2008.

Dr. Geoff Pound

Image: Fujairah foreshore.

Fujairah Bans Smoking to Boost Public Health

Fujairah has already outlawed shisha smoking in outdoor cafes and smoking in barber shops.

Now, according to Fuad Ali’s Gulf News report (25 April 2008), the Fujairah Municipality is banning smoking in ‘government areas and open public spaces’ (further explanation is needed).

Hopefully the next thing will be compulsory filters on vehicle exhaust systems, regular testing and the policing of heavily smoking cars and trucks.

This legislation then needs to be followed by closing down quarries near residential areas that are blowing dust particles into the atmosphere, banning rubbish fires and regulating industrial emissions.

It is good to hear Al Qasim, Head of the Environmental section at the Fujairah Municipality implementing his strategy “to improve the environment and boost public health.”

An independent study needs to be urgently commissioned to look at air pollution in Fujairah and bring further recommendations that will enhance the health and safety of its residents.

Dr. Geoff Pound

Image: “heavily smoking cars and trucks.”

Video Footage of Fujairah

A person by the name of Jerry, taking time off from the World 8 Ball Championship, has taken 9 minutes of film footage on some sights of Fujairah.

The first two minutes offers a good look at Le Meridien Hotel which has not only a good beach but the biggest swimming pool in the Emirates.

One gets a look at the Al Bidya mosque, the oldest mosque in the UAE and still being used for prayer, the Fujairah museum and the fort. The final minute offers some views of the Miramar Hotel.

The film is slow and upbeat but worth a look.

Link: Fujairah Scenery

Dr. Geoff Pound

Image: The Fujairah Fort

Fujairah Features in The National Newspaper

Truly National
It is to be expected that The National newspaper, which has been launched today in paper and online, will contain many stories and photographs from the city that is paying its bills.

It is pleasing, however, to discover that the virgin issue has several stories from Fujairah which signals that the newspaper is aiming to have a national reach in reality as well as in name.

Everyday Life in Fujairah
Already being favourably quoted in blogs today is a story by Rym Tina Ghazal about a Fujairah woman who speaks about her sense of isolation in the eastern emirate, what it was like to weather Cyclone Gonu, the assistance of maids, access to health, and life generally in the overgrown village. This is one person’s impression but the number of Fujairah people commuting each day to Dubai and Sharjah reveals another picture of connection across the country and it highlights Fujairah’s new role as the most affordable dormitory suburb of Dubai.

Fujairah Fotographs
In a report of the Saudi sale of Etisalat shares it is good to see a picture of the distinctive Etisalat Tower in Fujairah and another scene from the eastern city in The National’s Picture Gallery.

Finance Fuels Fujairah Economy
As evidence that The National journos have been writing dummy runs for weeks, a business story posted on 24 March 2008 by Hugh Naylor describes the impact on the UAE government injection of finance in upgrading Fujairah roads, drainage and sewerage systems.

Fujairah Fish Prices Falling
After months of complaining about the exorbitant price of fresh fish, another story written days before The National was launched, reports the dramatic falling of fish prices. It highlights the rush to the Fujairah fish markets where, in contrast to the other emirates, no minimum prices have been established, leaving Fujairah with the greatest supply and the lowest prices.

The article adds a reminder saying that while Fujairah fish are being sold at bargain basement prices, the savings will be wiped out once you’ve paid the petrol costs to drive to Fujairah and home! But why not turn your trip to the Fujairah markets into a pleasant drive, not only to fill your deep freeze but to experience some authentic Emirati culture?

Dr. Geoff Pound

Image: Moza al Kaabi is the first person from Fujairah to feature in The National.

Fujairah’s Flying Angel Ship is Making Waves in Marine World

In an article in the Maritime Global Net news, Fujairah’s Flying Angel is reported to be growing wings:

The news item entitled ‘DUBAI SUPPORT BOAT'S FIRST YEAR’ gives the following account:

“The Flying Angel – the world’s first floating seafarers’ centre owned and operated by The Mission to Seafarers – has welcomed over 3,000 seafarers onboard since entering full-time service in the port of Fujairah, Dubai on 15 April last year.”

“The purpose-built support boat takes its name from the flying angel logo of The Mission to Seafarers, the international society that has been caring for seafarers for over 150 years.”

“The 27-metre vessel provides similar facilities to the Mission’s 100-plus land-based centres including a bank of computers, telephones, access to a chaplain for services and counselling, as well an additional service of a medical clinic with a full-time paramedic onboard.”

“‘We have had an excellent first year serving the seafarers who are at anchor miles away from the shore,’ said the Revd Stephen Miller, port chaplain to Dubai. ‘For the vast majority of seafarers waiting in the anchorage, the costs incurred for getting to shore are simply too great. Therefore we are able to provide a facility which allows seafarers the chance to relax away from their vessels without the need for costly water-taxi services. The boat also helps shipowners because staff return to their posts refreshed and refocused on their tasks.’”

“In the last 5 years the anchorage at Fujairah has become one of the largest in the world with over 100 vessels, or nearly 3,000 seafarers waiting at any one time. Ships wait at anchor for repair, visits by company superintendents, recrewing, reprovisioning and refuelling.”

“Since launching in April 2007, The Flying Angel has visited over 197 ships, connected nearly 4,500 telephone calls, provided over 2,300 hours of internet time and distributed nearly 3,000 books, magazines and other items of literature.”

“‘A lot of 2007 has seen us trying new things to see what benefits seafarers most,’ reflected Stephen on the year. ‘However, more and more seafarers tell us what a great help the Flying Angel has been to them and we hope to grow our services to reach even more seafarers in the years to come.’”

Source: ‘Dubai Supports Boat’s First Year’, Maritime Global Net, 15 April 2008.

Image: The Flying Angel—the world’s first seafarer’s centre.

UAE Drivers Need Ongoing Driving Education

The recent reports of the high fatality and injury rate on Fujairah roads point to a catastrophe and this in a country where drunken driving is not the major contributor.

Traffic education happens primarily before drivers get their license and this is supplemented by some publicity during the annual National Campaign for Traffic Safety Awareness week.

In a country that has the highest number of cars in the world but also the dubious record for the highest number of traffic injuries on the globe it is crucial that there be ongoing compulsory education for all drivers.

The Khaleej Times article (13 April 2008) citing the 745 accidents on Fujairah roads in this last month said that high speeds and the failure to wear safety belts were major factors for the carnage.

The implementation of speed cameras and the raising of fines and demerit points have provided some deterrence but what is needed is regular education.

A compulsory, ongoing education for drivers must give urgent attention to these issues:
* Speeding
* Tailgating (in the tailgating capital of the world)
* Seat belt wearing and the In ša’ Allāh (إن شاء الله) factor
* Pedestrian Crossings (the most dangerous places in the UAE)
* Stop Signs (these are not Give Way signs)

Dr. Geoff Pound

Image: “High speeds…major factor.”

Fujairah Leads Environmental Debate

A Gulf News article (‘Limit Use of Plastic Bags, FNC Urges Cabinet’, 8 April 2008) reported that, “the FNC demanded that the [UAE Federal] government adopt more restrictive rules to strengthen environmental protection and contribute to sustainable development.”

In the report it was pleasing to see that leaders from Fujairah and the UAE’s East Coast were leading the government to vote in accordance with what is best for the environment.

Specific Recommendations
The reported recommendations, endorsed by representatives from the East Coast, include the following:

Ahmad Al Danhani, a member from Fujairah, said that the government action plan should address all types of pollutants and not only dust and noise pollution from quarries and crushers.

Rashid Al Shuraiqi, a member from Ras Al Khaimah (Sharjah), said that environmental assessment reports should be produced by all projects every five years and not just upon launching them.

Sultan Al Muaden, a member from Fujairah, said the government should ban the import of scrap metals, especially spare parts of cars.

Recommendations for Environment
The main recommendations that the UAE government is debating include the following:
* Limiting or banning the use of plastic bags.
* Reducing the life span of cars across the UAE
* Closing quarries and crushers adjacent to housing communities
* Treating by-products of desalination such as mineral salts and brine safely and efficiently.
* Ordering that all trucks be fitted with exhaust filters.
* Controlling the discharge of wastes from vessels and ordering these vessels to declare their shipments, especially those from nuclear powered ships.
* Approving and enforcing the National Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment at the earliest time.
* Addressing all types of pollutants, not only dust and noise pollution from quarries and crushers.
* Requiring environmental assessment reports by all projects every five years not just upon their launch.
* Demanding that the government stops burning wastes and adopts strict measures for the safe disposal of medical wastes.
* Issuing a federal law to regulate the use of underground water and water resources. (The use of underground water is currently under the jurisdiction of local authorities).
* Banning the import of scrap metals, especially spare parts of cars.
* Demanding that special roads be built for trucks and a railway system for passenger and cargo to ease road congestion in the country.
* Demanding that the government act diligently to enforce the federal law banning smoking in closed public areas.

Fujairah and East Coast Environment
Without oil (at this point), the eastern regions are staking their future growth on showcasing the UAE beauty (beaches and mountains) and developing the associated sectors such as tourism, fishing, diving and hotel accommodation.

It is hoped that the Fujairah and East Coast leaders will have a significant influence and enable the UAE government to decide policy that protects and enhancements the UAE environment and its people.

Dr Geoff Pound

Image: The road from the Dubai International airport towards Fujairah. This blanket of smog is in the emirate of Sharjah. “Addressing all types of pollutants, not only dust and noise pollution from quarries and crushers...”

UAE Negligent in Policing Fujairah Waters

Both the Khaleej Times (2 April 2008) and the Gulf News (1 April 2008) have reported two further oil slicks this week in the Fujairah waters.

The Gulf News article says that “oil spills have become a regular occurrence all along the East Coast with authorities unable to stop or prosecute offending ships.” The oil disasters along the eastern shoreline in recent months have been reported on these sites on 20 February, 2008 and the 11 March 2008.

Fish off the Menu
The Khaleej Times reports the concerns of local fishermen and the Gulf News reports the oil in the Qidfa waters with its proximity to Fujairah’s main desalination plant.

There are residents in Fujairah and Kalba who have taken fresh fish off their menus because of the regular evacuation of oil from the tankers with dead fish often being washed up on the Fujairah beaches. Soon people will be opting not to drink Fujairah fresh(?) water.

Cries from Hoteliers & Divers
Hotel managers along the east coast have called for tighter controls. Hotel workers have had to close their beaches and assist in the cleanup. The oil slicks have affected tourism which is one of the major planks of the Fujairah growth strategy.

The Diving Companies have reported their concern, not only about the damage to their businesses and tourism generally but the long term (decades) environmental impact on the shore and marine life.

Practical Policing
Thus far the UAE police have been impotent and the Fujairah Municipality has only wrung its hands and offered no apparent solutions.

Calls for tighter controls and higher fines have been made in an earlier posting.

The oil and shipping companies need to be levied higher fees for coming into the Fujairah waters to download and upload their cargo. These companies that make millions of dollars must bear the new costs so that more police boats can be purchased and put on 24 hour patrol among the 200 ships and 3,000 people that make up the Fujairah marine precinct.

Dr. Geoff Pound

Image: “so that police boats can be purchased and immediately put on 24 hour patrol.”

Fujairah at Sunset

There are some times when Fujairah looks dusty and dirty and other times when it looks sensational.

Here is a photo of the Fujairah waters at sunset. It was taken by Delson Roche and posted on one of his web sites with the caption, “The last boat sails back to the docks at Fujairah.”

Check out Delson’s site at DelsonClicks and find the links to his other sites on which he has posted black and whites, photos of animals and another section devoted to flowers.

He is a terrific photographer and I am grateful to Delson for his permission to post this fine picture of Fujairah.

Dr. Geoff Pound

Image: “The last boat sails back to the docks at Fujairah.”

Monitoring Impact of Fujairah’s Growth on Health and Environment

Cementing Fujairah Development
The announcement was made today that the Sharaf Group is setting up a cement factory in the town of Habhab, in the emirate of Fujairah, at a total cost of Dhs1billion.

This investment comes hot on the heels of a rash of new ventures being announced for Fujairah in the way of the:
Fujairah Business Park (Business Compound, The Market and Hotels)
Strengthening of Infrastructure
Oil Industry developments

Environmental & Health Costs?
One of the pleasing aspects of today’s announcement was when Mr. Rashid Hamdan Abdullah, the Director of the Municipality of Fujairah emphasized “that the directives of His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammad Al-Sharqi, member of the Supreme Council and the Governor of Fujairah focused on the need to abide strictly by all the factory conditions and environmental laws of the Federation of Environment Authority, and the laws of environment and safety for the sake of public health.”

Furthermore the Director highlighted that the location of the new factory in Habhab is at a safe distance and away from the nearest housing complexes.

Fujairah and Health Issues
There is significant anecdotal evidence to suggest that many newcomers to Fujairah find, especially in the first few weeks of arrival, that they and their family members get sore throats, stinging eyes and infection. Fujairah doctors and pharmacists corroborate these personal reports saying that the dust from the quarries and smoke from fires and factories contribute to a significant health risk, especially for those who already have respiratory problems. Cases have been reported whereby expats have developed asthma while living in Fujairah and have been told by local doctors that they are wise to return to their homeland to prevent a serious deterioration in their health.

Independent Monitoring Needed
Residents of Fujairah will be glad to observe the development of infrastructure, the upgrading of facilities and the expansion of industry and tourism. They will be heartened to learn that the Fujairah Municipality is insisting that new industries sign up and abide by conditions that will help preserve the environment and personal health.

It would provide greater peace of mind if the Fujairah Municipality would establish an independent monitoring of the way industry is impacting the land, sea and air, including the effect on personal health. Publicizing the existing measures and letting residents know of new monitoring and policing methods will be essential as Fujairah continues to develop.

Dr Geoff Pound

Source: ‘Sharaf Group to Set Up a Cement Factory in Fujairah’, AMEInfo 27 March 2008.

Image: A cement factory on the Arabian Peninsula.

Fujairah Business Opportunities Being Tapped

Fujairah Commercial Directions
In recent weeks some significant announcements have highlighted the key business directions for the emirate of Fujairah.

These announcements have included the development of cement plant, new oil and gas pipelines with expanding terminals and new hotels and resorts being opened.

Specific Projects
Earlier this month at the opening of the new headquarters of the Al Taif in Fujairah some new opportunities were announced:
* Tourism projects
* Industrial ventures including an aluminum plant (Dh300m) and a gypsum board factory (Dh45m).
* Business Projects including the establishment of the Fujairah Business Park (at Dh650m-750m a project consisting of two towers with offices, apartments, hotel rooms and shopping mall—this will be located next to the Al Bustan ballroom at Hamad bin Abdullah Street) and The Market (a Dh2bill investment involving housing facilities, business areas, and a shopping, entertainment and cultural complex).

Fujairah No Longer Overlooked
Khalid Kalban, Chairman of Al Taif Investment, which is a joint venture between Dubai Investments and Fujairah Investment Establishment (FIE), admitted that the emirate of Al Fujairah had largely been overlooked and investors stood to realise significant gains by seizing opportunities in Fujairah. He said. “While the UAE continues to grow, the business potential of smaller emirates such as Fujairah remains largely untapped.”

Source: Salah Al Deberky, ‘Dh2.5b Real Estate Projects Launched in Fujairah’, Khaleej Times, 6 March 2008;

Dr. Geoff Pound

Image: “The emirate of Al Fujairah had largely been overlooked…”

Fujairah Being Readied for Growth

The massive network of trenches and drains across Fujairah at the moment is a response to the huge allocation of money by UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahayan to expand and strengthen the infrastructure for the growth of some of the smaller emirates in the UAE.

Eric Feferberg of AFP has posted this report entitled ‘UAE to Spend 4.4 billion dollars on Infrastructure’, 22 March 2008:

UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahayan has allocated 4.4 billion dollars for infrastructure projects in parts of the oil-rich seven-emirate federation, the official WAM news agency said on Saturday.

The funds will go towards setting up new towns and intercity highways as well as stormwater and sewage systems in the northern emirates, WAM said without identifying which emirates will benefit from the projects.

The United Arab Emirates comprise the wealthy emirate of Abu Dhabi, the country's capital, as well as the booming state of Dubai -- both of which are spending billions of dollars on their infrastructure.

Northern emirates, where the economy is growing at a much slower pace, include Ajman, Fujairah, Ras al-Khaimah, Sharjah and Umm al-Qaiwain.

Sheikh Khalifa is the ruler of Abu Dhabi.

Image: UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahayan.

Further Oil Spillages Call for Urgent Action

Oil on Fujairah Beaches Again
Another ‘oil spill’ has washed onto Fujairah beaches only three weeks since the last major ‘oil spill’.

The damage to the diving, hotel and tourist industries is colossal. With the regular and relentless oil spills on the UAE’s East Coast, people would be stupid to buy so called ‘fresh fish’ from the local markets unless they like it soused in crude oil. But the long term environmental damage makes these frequent ‘oil spills’ catastrophic.

Oil Spills or Oil Drains?
To speak of an ‘oil spill’ is to suggest that the act was accidental or unintentional e.g. ‘Oops! I’ve split coffee on my shirt’; ‘See if you can pour the juice into your glass without spilling it’.

We need to stop calling oil on the beaches an ‘oil spillage’ and start speaking of ship owners deliberately draining their oil slops into the sea. The shipping and oil industries are highly technological so the oil drains at sea are too frequent to call these accidental and unintentional.

Cleaning Process
Before oil tankers are reloaded with a fresh cargo of oil they must have their tanks cleaned. This cleaning takes place out at sea and it involves putting the remains of the old oil cargo into a ‘slop tank’ which is taken by a ‘slop carrier’ and put into a ‘slop farm’ near the port. The tank is cleaned with solvent so what is appearing on the Fujairah waters is often not oil alone but a mixture of old oil and solvent. This procedure takes time to do it properly and it costs money—currently between $500,000-$600,000 depending on the size of the vessel.

Low Fines and High Profits
It is therefore tempting for a sea captain to save half a million dollars by releasing the oil slops into the Fujairah waters during the inky darkness of the night. And with fines for oil spills currently at the level of only $100,000 it is a risk that some rogue ship owners think is worth taking.

In the fluctuating price climate of oil futures, time is of the essence so whatever a ship owner can do to minimize the amount of time anchored in the Fujairah waters can look very attractive. The issue is accentuated at this time when there is a shortage of oil tankers in the world.

Urgent Action Proposed
With 150-300 ships at any time out from Fujairah and with these numbers due to escalate it is getting increasingly difficult to identify the culprits under the present system.

Fujairah is already being called ‘the biggest bunkering port in the world’ and with new oil refineries, terminals and oil pipelines being built, it is urgent that something be done to stop the willful draining of oil slops into the ocean.

The fine for oil spills must be increased and must be to a level that is significantly higher than the cost of cleaning the tank and depositing the oil slops properly into the slop carrier.

Furthermore, a more effective policing mechanism must be instituted with more police boats on patrol and creating a climate of high vigilance.

This will cost money but with the bunkering business now worth billions of dollars it is proportional. Otherwise the significant oil revenue that is coming to the UAE will be at great expense to the tourism, diving and fishing industries. Most importantly is the need to safeguard the priceless environment on the UAE’s East Coast.

Dr. Geoff Pound

Image: Oil tanker.

Oil Industry Expands in Fujairah

As oil topped the $100 per barrel mark, the Singapore-listed company Chemoil Energy announced that it will launch its marine fuel business in Fujairah this month (March) and will more than double the storage capacity within two years.

The Reuters article said:
“The foray into Fujairah will put it in direct competition with Vitol, which will soon start trading in a region dominated by a small group of Arab players and had already seen several large foreign firms fail in their attempts to cement a foothold in the market.”

Company chairman, Robert Bandy spoke of the attractiveness of the Fujairah location when saying:

“I think if you run the numbers, Fujairah is the largest fuel oil port in the world now... it’s outside the Strait of Hormuz, every oil tanker loading crude oil out of the Middle East will entertain that as a stopping point for fuel.” Bandy said.

Fujairah handles about 100 vessels at any given time for various marine services including re-fuelling, port data show.

Source: Luke Pachymuthu and Yaw Yan Chong, Chemoil Asia, Mideast Expansion on Track, Reuters UK, 27 February 2008.

Image: Oil Pump