Saudi Arabia celebrates World Maritime Day and graduates First

Jeddah, October 22, SPA -- Prince Khalid Al-Faisal bin Abdulaziz,
Governor of Makkah Region, today patronized the opening ceremony of
Saudi Arabia's celebrations of World Maritime Day 2008 held under the
title "60 years in the service of navigation" and graced a
graduation ceremony of Saudi Arabia's first batch of Marine Studies.

The students were graduated from the Faculty of Oceanography,
University of King Abdulaziz in Jeddah.

In a key address, Minister of Transport Jubarah bin Eid Al-Suraiseri
briefly reviewed the history of the International Maritime
Organization and the active role of the Kingdom, making it one of
IMO's current members for the second time in a row.

This year's ceremony will include a number of activities, seminars
and an exhibition to be held on the fringes of the event, he said.

For his part, Prince Khalid Al Faisal expressed happiness of holding
this event, organized by the Ministry of Transport and King Abdulaziz
University in which other government agencies, companies and
institutions are taking part.

He said the event reflects Saudi Arabia's early investment to its
geographical advantage, serves its own economic development in
particular and its comprehensive development plans in general and
fulfills its responsibility towards pilgrims and Umrah performers.
--SPA