ABU DHABI: Abu Dhabi Ports has successfully completed a detailed crisis practice scenario, in co-operation with the Emergency, Crisis and Disasters Management Team in Abu Dhabi and with the participation of 12 government entities. The exercise included the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority, NCEMA, the Crisis Response Office-Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi Police, the Critical Infrastructure and Coastline Protection Authority, CICPA, the General Command of Abu Dhabi Civil Defence, the Department of Municipal Affairs and Transport, the Environment Agency-Abu Dhabi, the Health Authority-Abu Dhabi, the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, ADNOC, the Centre of Waste Management, TADWEER, TCA Abu Dhabi, the Emirates Red Crescent, ERC, and the National Search and Rescue Centre, NSRC.
Part of the exercise was to test the response time of dealing with any emergency situation when multiple government entities are involved in and are expected to react immediately, based on a scenario involving the grounding of a vessel and an oil spill that could have environmental repercussions on the port’s marine wildlife. During the exercise, Abu Dhabi Ports activated its emergency and crisis response plan, immediately informing the company’s crisis management team and representatives of government agencies to deal with the accident scenario. An important part of exercise also measured the effectiveness of the crisis communication plan of Abu Dhabi Ports, and the timing of the exchange of information with the media on both traditional and digital platforms and the role it plays in containing crisis scenarios. The plan especially focusses on utilising social media and how this form of communication can mitigate reputational damage through the fast transmission of breaking news.
Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamsi, Abu Dhabi Ports CEO, commented, “We are pleased to have completed this exercise and that we responded to the crisis scenario quickly and diligently, with the co-operation of all government entities that have joined us. A combination of heightened readiness and willingness to harness all resources and possibilities to co-operate with Abu Dhabi Ports in this scenario, to meet any crisis or emergency maritime disasters, was clearly evident.” Mohamed Al Tamimi, Acting VP-Regulations, HSE and Security at Abu Dhabi Ports, said, “Given the importance attached by Abu Dhabi Ports to enhance security and safety levels in our ports, we have set up this joint exercise as a proactive step towards practicing any eventuality and, in turn, raising efficiency, saving lives and property and reducing any possible environmental pollution that may result as a consequence. In the midst of a scenario like this taking place, it is critical that once the incident is contained, there is continuity in the movement of vessels both in and out of the port, and a return to business normalcy as soon as it is safe to do so.”
