Masses of sea debris recycled

The debris, which includes plastic, wood, ropes and fishing nets, is gathered using a boat designed by the environment and anti-pollution department at Safeen, formerly known as Abu Dhabi Marine Services.

Capt. Adil Banihammad, acting CEO of Safeen, said: “The establishment of the Environment and Anti-Pollution Department at Safeen, under the Marine Services Directorate back in 2015, demonstrates Abu Dhabi Ports’ utmost priority to protect the environment, attain sustainability and preserve marine resources and life.”

Waste awareness campaigns

As well as collecting debris, “the department coordinates joint actions with all parties involved in protecting the environment and the marine life, particularly coral and sea turtles, and organizes awareness campaigns about the hazards of throwing waste in the sea,” Mr Banihammad explained.

Safeen runs periodical training and drills to ensure the readiness of the department’s staff and equipment to deal with environmental issues and achieve operational efficiency.

The company says it has all the resources and tools needed for treating and containing level-one oil spills, according to the criteria of the International Petroleum Industry Environmental Conservation Association (IPIECA). It also cooperates with many local and international parties and organisations to contain oil spills.