A workshop on navigation safety and certifications was implemented in coordination with the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology and in cooperation with the Indian Ocean Memorandum of Understanding in Sohar, Sultanate of Oman during the period from 27 to 31 October 2024. The workshop focused on the inspectors’ knowledge and awareness of maritime navigation safety certificates and the mechanism for conforming maritime navigation devices to international standards on ships and ensuring that the ship’s crew performs periodic maintenance of these devices and their knowledge of operating processes.

The CIC Campaign training on the safety of lifting equipment on board ships was conducted in coordination with the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology and in cooperation with the Indian ocean MOU in Salalah, Sultanate of Oman during the period from 8 to 12 September 2024. The workshop focused on the knowledge of the PSCOs about the safety of lifting equipment on ships and ensuring that the ship crew follows up on the periodic maintenance operations of these equipment, in addition to the implementation of the ship inspectors of the CIC Campaign for the year 2024.

Riyadh MoU’s 21 PSC Committee meeting was held in Doha, State of Qatar from 19 – 21 February 2024 under the chairmanship of Capt. Yousef Mohamed Alhosan – Vice President of Policies & Legislations at the Saudi Ports Authority (MAWANI).

The meeting was attended by all member authorities: United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar and Kuwait. Paris MoU Secretary and Med MoU Deputy Secretary General had attended as observers.

Main Outcome of the 21 PSC Committee Meeting:

· Update Riyadh MOU Manual
· Upgrade the Riyadh Ship Information System (Riyadh SIS)
· Agreed in principle to Overarching Database with IMO
· Agreed in new agreement data exchange with IMO
· Update Riyadh MoU Administrative and Financial System
· Approved the proposed 2024 training program.
· Re-Electing the chairman for a second term
· Electing the first vice chair for Riyadh MoU

Riyadh MoUs 1st General Training Course (GTC1), in coordination with DNV and in cooperation with the representative of UAE was conducted in Dubai from 15 – 19 October 2023. It was about the international conventions issued by the International Maritime Organization, with the aim of participants learning about the details of the conventions and legal references.

CIC on Fire Safety training, in coordination with DNV and in cooperation with the representative of Saudi Arabia was conducted in Jeddah from 27 – 31 August 2023. The training was focused on ensuring the PSCOs are familiarized to determine the level of compliance with the requirements on fire safety, inspecting the vessel and its crew according to the CIC questionnaire.

Ballast Water Management (BWM), in coordination with ClassNK and in cooperation with the representative of Qatar was conducted in Doha from 04 – 08 June 2023. The training focused on enabling the PSCOs and crew onboard ships to become familiar with the ballast water management methods commonly used to meet the requirements of the International Convention
for the Control and Management of ships Ballast Water and sediments.

Riyadh MOUs 20 PSC Committee Meeting was held in Muscat, Oman with the participation of its six member authorities, Caribbean MOU Secretary General, the Indian Ocean MOU Secretary and the representative of the General Secretariat of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). During the session, several topics were discussed including the review of 2022 statistics on PSC inspections, update of the text of the memoranda and continuously enhancing the skills of the port State control officers.

The training focused on the importance of inspecting passenger ships that arrive at the ports of RMOU member authorities and to familiarize the Port State Control Officers on the inspection mechanism of these type of ships. As well as ensuring that these ships comply with the passenger ship safety requirements.

This training was conducted in conjunction with the regional MOUs Concentrated Inspection Campaign (CIC) on The International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) for 2022. This workshop aimed on enhancing the PSCOs knowledge in conducting the CIC as per the targeted areas highlighted in the questionnaire and to ensure that shipowners comply with the requirements of the STCW Convention.

The inspectors became acquainted with the operations of shipping dangerous goods and the procedures required for the transportation of dangerous goods, identify the types of these goods and their storage locations on the ship, and ensure that the ship’s crew implements the IMDG CODE to ship these merchandise safely.

Riyadh MOUs 19 PSC Committee Meeting was held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia with the participation of UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman & Qatar. The representative of the General Secretariat of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) had also participated as an observer. During the session, several topics were discussed including the review reviewing the structure of Riyadh MOU, revamping of Riyadh MOU website and approved conducting CIC on STCW in 2022.

Due to the continues restrictions of Covid-19 pandemic, the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code (IMDG Code) was conducted virtually in order to enhance and harmonize the safe carriage of dangerous goods and to ensure the safe transport of dangerous goods and prevent all types of marine pollution while allowing the free unrestricted movement of such goods. It also focuses on the preservation of the marine environment and the prevention of pollution.

Virtual training was conducted on Stability in General and this training was related to the Concentrated Inspection Campaign (CIC) topic for 2021 which focused on SOLAS CH II-1. The objective of the training was to confirm that the ship staff are assessing the actual stability condition on completion of cargo operations before departure of the ship and on all stages of the voyage.

Due to the restrictions of Covid-19 pandemic, Riyadh MOU had conducted its first virtual training on the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) and its objective was to provide an understanding and update with the latest regulatory requirements of MARPOL and other IMO conventions related to pollution prevention and for the PSCOs to follow the best management practices related to MARPOL Annex I, II & III.

Riyadh MOUs 17 PSC Committee Meeting was held in Muscat, Oman with the participation of its six member authorities, Abuja MOU Secretary General and the representative of the General Secretariat of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). During the session, several topics were discussed including the update on the mandatory IMO Member State Audit Scheme (IMSAS), ratification of relevant instruments and data exchange with GISIS & IHS Markit.

A theory & practical workshop on Auxiliary Machinery in the Engine Room was conducted with the focus on the main and auxiliary safety equipment in the engine room and their related documents.