DUBAI // The Ministry of Environment and Water is considering a national plan to deal with destructive oil spills amid growing concern over the country's vulnerability.
Khamis Bu-Amim, the president of the Regional Clean Sea Organisation (Resco), said the plan was ready and the question now was when the ministry would finalise it with the Government and approve it.
The Resco is a consortium established in 1972 by oil companies in the region to co-ordinate emergency response.
Mr Bu-Amim made the announcement on the sidelines of a workshop for oil industry professionals on responses to accidents at sea. The UAE does not currently have a plan to deal with or contain oil spills. The Resco estimates the number of spills along the UAE coast to be more than 140 each year, many due to accidents in the storing and drilling of oil.
Few companies are willing to disclose operational spills, said Mr Bu-Amim, adding that a proper framework and plan would help "educate" companies about their responsibilities.
The draft plan was presented to the ministry after it signed a memorandum of understanding with the Resco last year. At the time it was suggested the country would use satellite navigation systems and real-time satellite images to spot oil slicks and catch cargo ships that pollute coastal waters. In addition to an emergency plan, the country's approach could include training programmes and provisions for evaluating the impact of oil spills on marine life.
"The plan is the catalyst to everything you need to do," said John Dipple, the managing director of Seacor Environmental Services, an environmental consultancy and emergency services provider.
The east coast of the UAE was suffering in particular from oil spills because of "deliberate or accidental dumping from ships", he said.
The country is vulnerable because of the volume of marine traffic and the potential impact on the utilities and tourism sectors.
kshaheen@thenational.ae
Tips for used car buyers
- Choose cars with GCC specifications
- Get a service history for cars less than five years old
- Don’t go cheap on the inspection
- Check for oil leaks
- Do a Google search on the standard problems for your car model
- Do your due diligence. Get a transfer of ownership done at an official RTA centre
- Check the vehicle’s condition. You don’t want to buy a car that’s a good deal but ends up costing you Dh10,000 in repairs every month
- Validate warranty and service contracts with the relevant agency and and make sure they are valid when ownership is transferred
- If you are planning to sell the car soon, buy one with a good resale value. The two most popular cars in the UAE are black or white in colour and other colours are harder to sell
Tarek Kabrit, chief executive of Seez, and Imad Hammad, chief executive and co-founder of CarSwitch.com
Tips for newlyweds to better manage finances
All couples are unique and have to create a financial blueprint that is most suitable for their relationship, says Vijay Valecha, chief investment officer at Century Financial. He offers his top five tips for couples to better manage their finances.
Discuss your assets and debts: When married, it’s important to understand each other’s personal financial situation. It’s necessary to know upfront what each party brings to the table, as debts and assets affect spending habits and joint loan qualifications. Discussing all aspects of their finances as a couple prevents anyone from being blindsided later.
Decide on the financial/saving goals: Spouses should independently list their top goals and share their lists with one another to shape a joint plan. Writing down clear goals will help them determine how much to save each month, how much to put aside for short-term goals, and how they will reach their long-term financial goals.
Set a budget: A budget can keep the couple be mindful of their income and expenses. With a monthly budget, couples will know exactly how much they can spend in a category each month, how much they have to work with and what spending areas need to be evaluated.
Decide who manages what: When it comes to handling finances, it’s a good idea to decide who manages what. For example, one person might take on the day-to-day bills, while the other tackles long-term investments and retirement plans.
Money date nights: Talking about money should be a healthy, ongoing conversation and couples should not wait for something to go wrong. They should set time aside every month to talk about future financial decisions and see the progress they’ve made together towards accomplishing their goals.
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The Penguin
Starring: Colin Farrell, Cristin Milioti, Rhenzy Feliz
Creator: Lauren LeFranc
Rating: 4/5
Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD)
What is THAAD?
It is considered to be the US' most superior missile defence system.
Production:
It was first created in 2008.
Speed:
THAAD missiles can travel at over Mach 8, so fast that it is hypersonic.
Abilities:
THAAD is designed to take out projectiles, namely ballistic missiles, as they are on their downward trajectory towards their target, otherwise known as the "terminal phase".
Purpose:
To protect high-value strategic sites, such as airfields or population centres.
Range:
THAAD can target projectiles both inside and outside of the Earth's atmosphere, at an altitude of 93 miles above the Earth's surface.
Creators:
Lockheed Martin was originally granted the contract to develop the system in 1992. Defence company Raytheon sub-contracts to develop other major parts of the system, such as ground-based radar.
UAE and THAAD:
In 2011, the UAE became the first country outside of the US to buy two THAAD missile defence systems. It then deployed them in 2016, becoming the first Gulf country to do so.
