Saudi Red Sea Authority highlights maritime sustainability activities at SMIC

Saudi Red Sea Authority (SRSA) participated in the Sustainable Maritime Industry Conference (SMIC) organized by Transport General Authority in Jeddah on 4-6 September.Under the slogan “Innovation for a Greener Future, the conference aims to highlights the Kingdom’s role in the maritime sector and introduce its achievements and initiatives in protecting the marine environment.

On the first day of the conference, SRSA Acting CEO Mohammed Al-Asiri participated in a panel discussion named 'Saudi & Middle East Green Initiatives Contribution to Maritime Decarbonization, Readiness & Road Map’ alongside members of the Board of Directors of SRSA Eng. Ali bin Saeed Al-Ghamdi, CEO, National Center for Environmental Compliance and Omar bin Talal Hariri, President, Saudi Ports Authority (MAWANI). Eng. Suleiman Al-Mazroo, CEO, National Industrial Development and Logistics Program (NIDLP), completed the panel. The discussion was moderated by Dr. Omaimah Bamasag,Deputy Minister for Transport Empowerment at the Transport General Authority.

Mohammed Al-Asiri said: “Saudi Red Sea Authority is focused on protecting and preserving the natural environment of the Red Sea, including reducing carbon emissions resulting from navigational activities in tourism, in line with Saudi Vision 2030.”

He added that SRSA is tasked with stimulating blue economy growth through the development of sustainable coastal tourism, as an enabler and regulator of maritime and navigational activities in the Red Sea in the Kingdom. "In order to achieve the Kingdom's sustainability goals in the Red Sea, the Authority's efforts are focused on building partnerships and cooperation with maritime entities, issuing new regulations, and supporting investments."

He explained that the Authority recently issued first of theirkind regulations in the Kingdom that enable marine tourism and recreational activities while also providing environmental protection. "Saudi Red Sea Authority also cooperates with international entities that include IMO member states, the Monaco Yacht Club, and the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation," he continued.

SRSA was established following a Saudi Council of Ministers decree in 2021. Its mandate includes regulating navigational activities, including yachting and cruising; ensuring environmental protection, including monitoring and action-taking; enabling navigational and marine activities; deploying technology to facilitate licenses and permit procedures; supporting investments, including SMEs; defining infrastructure requirements for navigational and marine activities; and promoting navigational and marine activities.