MORE THAN 70 delegates from the Asia-Pacific and Indian Ocean region have been considering how to collaborate to make shipping safer in the region.
The inaugural joint seminar to improve safety across the seas, included representatives from Australia and signatory nations to the Asia Pacific (Tokyo) and Indian Ocean Memorandums of Understanding (TMOU and IOMOU) on port State control (PSC) who came together from 24 to 28 February on the Gold Coast, Queensland.
Speaking by phone to Daily Cargo News, secretary of the Tokyo MoU, Hideo Kubota, and secretary of the Indian Ocean MoU, Achintya Bikash Dutta, agreed there was a need for a coordinated approach.
Mr Dutta said one of the group’s recent moves was the introduction of a structured training program on fishing vessel inspection. “That is also a critical step in our development in this sector,” he said.
Another training session is being held in the next fortnight.
Mr Kubota said the seminar had been extremely successful.
The Gold Coast seminar included a mix of presentations, workshops and activities aimed at achieving a safer shipping industry, improving ship inspection guidelines and strengthening maritime relationships in the Asia-Pacific and Indian Ocean regions.
It featured keynote speaker secretary general of the Caribbean MoU, Jodi Munn Barrow, and secretary of the Tokyo MoU, Hideo Kubota.
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) Head of Inspections Bruce Whitby said international gatherings like this were crucial to the success of the worldwide PSC regime.
“Shipping is truly international, and it can only operate effectively if the regulations and standards are agreed, adopted and implemented on an international basis,” Mr Whitby said.
“This seminar highlights the importance of international cooperation and effective communication.”
The seminar was also a celebration of women working in maritime and their important role in the industry, with almost 50% of the presenters being women from the industry.
The Tokyo MoU was signed in 1993 and aims to promote effective port State control (PSC) regimes in the Asia-Pacific region to eliminate substandard shipping through the co-operation of its members and harmonisation of their activities.
The IOMOU was finalised in 1997 to promote the effective implementation of an improved and harmonised system of PSC to eliminate substandard shipping and practices, promote maritime safety, protect the marine environment and safeguard working and living conditions on board ships.
