Dubai: The National Transport Authority has issued new rules to all UAE-registered boaters warning not “to approach a naval ship closer than 800 metres” in response to the death of an Indian fisherman who was fired upon by a US navy vessel on July 16 off Jebel Ali.
New regulations have been issued following calls in the last two months for a clear set of new maritime rules for UAE mariners to frame formal operating clearances to avoid clashes between foreign military vessels operating in Gulf waters and domestic water craft.
In an email to all registered boat owners in the UAE, Capt Saleem Alavi, maritime adviser with the National Transport Authority, said that the “purpose of this flyer is to inform the public about the safety zone the naval ships have created for their protection”.
The regulations include two additional warnings for boat operators advising them; “Do not approach the naval vessel at fast speed other than to turn away from the ship [and] do not make sudden alterations to the course towards the naval ship.”
To help boat operators grasp how far 800 metres measures, the transport authority proffered a simple means whilst on land of sizing up distance at sea as outlined in the rules.
“To determine 800 metres, we suggest that you approach a building and value its size. Then walk 800 long steps from that same building and look back at [the building] for a full appreciation of size and distance.”
The authority also directly addresses warnings from naval vessels that come in many forms ranging from audio to visual.
“Pay attention to the warnings given by the naval vessel. The type of warnings can be … by loud hailer, by shooting flairs to attract your attention, laser light in your eyes, VHF Channel 16, warning shots across the bow,” states the authority advisory.
If a vessel operator is confronted with warnings, the transport authority advised that maritime crews should “turn away from the ship without delay; stop the boat immediately if it is safe to do so and call on VHF Channel 16 to identify your boat”.
The newly released rules are important given that the US Navy insisted that the crew of its vessel, Rappahannock, tried to warn the crew of the fishing vessel that by all US accounts was approaching in a rapid manner.
At the time, Lt Greg Raelson, a media officer at the US 5th-fleet based in Bahrain said, that when “those efforts failed to deter the approaching vessel, the security team on the [US navy vessel] Rappahannock fired rounds from a 0.50-calibre machine gun.”
The American response, amid high tensions in Gulf waters over Iran’s nuclear activities, was defended by a US defence official who told AP that the navy has “been very concerned about small boats” since the 2000 suicide attack against the USS Cole in the Yemeni port of Aden.
Meanwhile, there has been no new word on an ongoing investigation by both the UAE and the US Navy following the incident.
In the days after the incident, India Foreign Minister S.M. Krishna called the incident “unfortunate” and said he hoped that “the necessary action will be initiated”.
The UAE “has filed a case against this incident. They are proceeding according to the laws of that country”. Krishna told reporters in the Indian capital at the time of the incident.
Source: Gulf News
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