The UAE is taking initiative for its seafarers’ protection!

Authorities in the United Arab Emirates have begun an initiative to defend seafarers’ rights and wellbeing, a move that comes amid global concerns that seafarers’ suffering has been largely overlooked. The effort, entitled “Supporting our Blue Army,” is intended to improve the quality of life for sailors by safeguarding their rights with shipowners and operating firms, as well as assisting them in overcoming obstacles caused by COVID-19 interruptions, according to the UAE government.

“We launched the ‘Supporting our Blue Army’ initiative to be one of the first countries to acknowledge and admire marine crews, putting them on an equal footing with priority categories like medical personnel, especially in such situations where seafarers played a key role in mitigating the devastating effects on the global economy due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Suhail Al Mazrouei, a senior official at the Ministry of Defense.