On, Wednesday, 2 Shaaban 1444 AH, corresponding to 22-2-2023 AD, the Minister of Transport, Mr. Abdul Wahhab Al-Durra, was briefed on the progress of work in the General Authority for Maritime Affairs in Hodeida, and the level of efforts made to achieve maritime safety and navigational security in Yemeni waters.
During the visit, Minister Al-Durra listened from the Chairman of the Authority, Zaid Ahmed Al-Washli, about the Authority's role in implementing procedures related to the safety of ships, securing their arrival to Yemen Red Sea ports, and preserving water from pollution in accordance with international laws and requirements for maritime safety.
He also listened to an explanation about the work situation in the authority and the activities it is currently carrying out in conjunction with the movement of ships entering Yemen Red Sea port, including the monitoring and guidance activities and the plan to activate the performance of technical and administrative cadres.
During the meeting, which included the Chairman of the Authority, Al-Washli, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Red Sea Ports Corporation, Captain Muhammad Ishaq, and the Director General of Maritime Affairs, Dr. Ibrahim Al-Moshki, the Minister of Transport reviewed the directives to improve and develop the Authority's services and organize work mechanisms in line with the requirements of the next stage.
He praised the efforts of the authority and the steadfastness and performance of its employees despite the challenges, difficulties and restrictions imposed by the forces of aggression, pointing to the great role assigned to it in combating pollution and protecting marine life and enhancing its activity in regulating the safety and security of maritime navigation in Yemeni waters.
Minister Al-Durra stressed that the next stage will witness many works in preparation for opening all Yemen Red Sea ports, which requires enhancing readiness and efficiency in performing the functions of the Public Authority for Maritime Affairs services to restore its activity and make more efforts.
He pointed to the importance of strengthening partnership with businessmen and shipping companies, developing transport sectors in accordance with the laws and regulations, and consolidating the relationship between all sectors.
He also stressed the importance of benefiting from the facilities provided by the Political Council, the Salvation Government, the Ministry of Transport, Yemen Red Sea Ports Corporation and its operating authorities, which serve all shipping companies and importers without exception in terms of the stability of the customs dollar at 250 riyals, the speed of work turnover, the inspection of goods, and the advantage and smoothness of transportation to all governorates.
The Minister of Transport stressed the constant coordination between all parties operating in the port, which contributes to improving the smoothness of procedures and the speedy release of arriving goods. He praised the role of the local authority in Al-Hodeida Governorate in opening the 90 line in front of the exit of trucks loaded with goods without the trouble of passing through the city center.
He reaffirmed that the lifting of the siege and the full opening of the port of Hodeida is a basic requirement, given the great importance this port represents in providing its services to more than 70 percent of the population of the governorates with a large density.
In addition, the Minister of Transport, Abdul-Wahhab Al-Durra, and his entourage visited the site of the one-stop-shop project for Yemen Red Sea Ports Corporation and the sectors operating in the port of Hodeida, which is to be implemented according to the work plan and program.
During the visit, the engineers of the project, led by the Director General of Projects and Engineering Supervision, Eng. Sami Abdullah Maqbouli and Head of the Sub-Unit of the National Vision in the Corporation, Dr. And other sectors operating in the port) in one location to facilitate procedures and speed up the process of clearing goods and conduct coordination between all parties at the same time.
He also inspected the medical center in the port of Hodeida and was briefed on the level of services it provides to sailors and workers at the port berths, and was briefed on its equipment, the mechanism for treating patients and the wounded, and the emergency reception of cases, stressing the importance of integration between the various facilities operating in the port with the shipping companies.
