Vela International Marine will sponsor the second Environmental Excellence Awards and Amateur Photography Contest in conjunction with the Offshore Arabia Conference and Exhibition 2009, scheduled for January 11-13 at the Dubai Convention and Exhibition Center. Rashid Ahmed bin Fahad, UAE Minister of Environment and Water, made the announcement at an Aug. 20 press conference. Offshore Arabia 2009 will be held under the patronage of Sheikh Mohammed ibn Rashid Al-Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. Besides sponsoring the two awards, Vela will compete in two separate categories: Excellence in Environmental Application and Excellence in Capability and Response. “Environmental Protection has always been a priority with Vela,” then-acting president Dawood M. Al-Dawood said at the press conference. He also spoke of Vela's role in Saudi Aramco's fuel-quality road map, a plan stretching into 2030 for cleaner, higher quality fuels that can meet the world's most stringent environmental standards. “Throughout its 75 years of operation, Saudi Aramco has always placed the protection of the environment as one of its business priorities, and with the same determination, the corporation will continue providing energy for generations to come,” Al-Dawood was quoted as saying in a report carried by Saudi Aramco's website. Offshore Arabia 2009 is being organized by the Regional Clean Sea Organization (RECSO). Vela's past awards in Offshore Arabia conferences have included Best Exhibit Stand and Excellence in Incident Command Structure. It also has been recognized for sponsoring awards and participation in visionary and technical sessions.
