Ammon News - A total of 1,262 foreign ships loaded with various goods docked at Aqaba ports during 2020, Director-General of the Jordan Maritime Authority, Mohammad Salman, said Wednesday.

On allowing ships to dock during the COVID-19 pandemic, Salman pointed out that it hinges on continuing to implement this year's programs and executive plans fully along with doubled efforts to keep the Aqaba port open to incoming and outgoing vessels under an elaborate plan and strict precautionary measures to prevent the virus from spreading in the governorate.

It also depends on the ongoing coordination with partners and security apparatuses, he underlined.

Detailing the authority's achievements in 2020, Salman said that it dealt with 303 entry and exit movements for the Arab Bridge Maritime ships, issued 494 certificates of eligibility for Jordanian captains and engineers, and registered a new ship under the Jordanian flag, bringing the total to 33 vessels operating in various parts of the world.

The authority, Salman added, carried out technical inspections on 312 foreign ships under the Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control in the Mediterranean Region, and technical inspections of 1,101 maritime pieces operating in Jordanian port.

He said the authority also registered 74 new boats and approved new port berths after meeting international requirements and uploading them to the 801 Aqaba port admiralty map.

Jordanian ports are now able to receive all types of ships, which reduces waiting times at sea or the anchorage area, he added.