Al-Watani: Strategic partnership with the diving team
National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) announced the completion of an environmental and strategic partnership with the Kuwait Diving Team, affiliated with the Environmental Volunteer Foundation, as part of the bank’s ongoing commitment to the principles of social responsibility and support for initiatives aimed at achieving sustainable environmental development and protecting natural resources in Kuwait.
This partnership aims to support and enhance the “Marine Mooring” project, one of the most prominent environmental initiatives dedicated to protecting coral reefs in Kuwait’s territorial waters, particularly in sensitive marine sites hosting natural coral colonies, including the islands of Qaruh, Umm Al-Maradim, and Kubbar, as well as several marine sites along the shores of Khiran and Al-Zour.
This partnership supports the role the Kuwait Diving Team has played for years in implementing programs and projects for marine environmental conservation, primarily the maintenance and installation of environmentally friendly marine moorings. These moorings help mitigate damage to coral reefs caused by the anchoring of ships, yachts, and leisure boats in their natural habitats.
The Marine Mooring project aims to provide safe and sustainable alternatives for boat mooring, thereby contributing to the protection of marine ecosystems and preserving the biodiversity characteristic of Kuwait’s waters.
The marine moorings used in the project feature precise, internationally certified technical specifications. They are installed on the seabed in a manner that ensures no harm is done to coral reefs or surrounding marine habitats. These moorings are also designed to withstand various marine conditions and absorb the shock of boat movements and waves, thereby reducing the likelihood of coral uprooting or breakage.
Furthermore, the moorings are manufactured from environmentally friendly materials with a long operational lifespan, releasing no harmful substances or pollutants into the marine environment, in line with global best practices for protecting coastal and marine ecosystems.
Commenting on this occasion, Talal Al-Turki, Deputy Head of Public Relations and Events Management at NBK, stated: “We are proud of this strategic partnership with the Kuwait Diving Team, which serves as a leading national model in voluntary environmental work and marine conservation in Kuwait. Our support for the Marine Mooring project stems from our belief in the importance of preserving natural resources and sensitive ecosystems, particularly coral reefs, which form a fundamental element in sustaining marine life and biodiversity.
“NBK calls upon all sea visitors, fishing enthusiasts, boat owners, and yacht operators to adhere to the use of designated floating moorings when visiting islands and marine sites containing coral reefs, and to avoid anchoring boats directly on them. This will contribute to preserving this important natural resource and ensuring its sustainability.
“The bank emphasized that protecting coral reefs and the associated marine organisms represents a shared responsibility requiring the concerted efforts of various institutions and individuals, given the pivotal role these ecosystems play in maintaining ecological balance and sustaining marine life in Kuwait.”
