Drowning accidents dropped by half in 2017
dubai — Drowning accidents went down by 50 per cent in 2017, compared to the previous year, according to Brigadier Abdul Qader Al Bannai, director of the Dubai Ports police station.
While 2017 recorded 18 drowning accidents, resulting in 14 deaths and 4 injuries, 35 accidents in 2016 resulted in 29 deaths and 6 minor to severe injuries.
Brig Al Bannai also said that 337 offenders were arrested by the Ports police station and charged with committing violations last year, of which 208 were residency law violations. 42 were wanted by the police for various cases, and four were accused of wrong conduct and attempted theft and 83 were suspects wanted in various other cases.
The Dubai Ports police station said they also organised awareness campaigns to prevent disturbance on the beaches and to other beachgoers.
Most beach violations were observed on the beaches of Umm Suqeim, JBR, Kite Beach and Al Sufouh street. Police teams and marine patrols monitored and recorded 321 water bike violations in 2017, against 210 in 2016. 31 violations were of non-compliance with the time limit; 7 were recorded for causing disturbance to beachgoers; 15 for failing to wear life jackets; 33 expired bike licences; 62 violations of lacking identification papers; 5 for overspeeding; 395 violations by maritime means of transport.
Comparatively, in 2016, 45 violations were recorded for entering prohibited places; 47 for sailing without fire extinguishers; 52 for driving a vessels without a licence; 96 for lacking necessary documents; 16 life jacket violations.
Violations committed by fishermen only accounted for 6 in 2017, compared to 23 violations in 2016.
Brig Al Bannai noted that maritime violations also included overspeeding of boats and not following lighting and waste dumping rules. Many of these are then forwarded to the Dubai Maritime City Authority for monitoring and correction.
A total of 1,725 violations last year included 743 beach nuisance violations; 256 in-door swimming violations; 289 for filming and violating women’s privacy; 246 baggage abandonments, 96 cycling violations and 46 skidding and steering violations; 36 violations of wheeled walking; and 13 for leaving animals on the beaches.
In 2017, 103 different marine accidents were recorded, compared to 71 accidents in 2016, including 4 collisions with unknown objects; 7 collisions with flying objects; 39 collisions with a solid body; 29 collisions with other vessels; and 1 incident involving a container crash.
amira@khaleejtimes.com