PORT state control officers from around the Asia-Pacific region are gathering in Queensland this month for the inaugural Tokyo MOU and Indian Ocean MOU joint seminar.
Representatives from Australia and signatories to the memorandums of understanding on port state control will meet to promote safer shipping in the Asia-Pacific and Indian Ocean.
The joint seminar, “Building collaboration to improve maritime safety across the seas”, will run from 24 February until 28 February on the Gold Coast.
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority expects about 70 delegates to attend.
Presentations, workshops and activities will focus on achieving a safer shipping industry, improving ship inspection guidelines and strengthening maritime relationships in the Asia-Pacific and Indian Ocean regions.
The seminar will feature keynote presentations from Tokyo MOU secretary Hideo Kubota and Caribbean MOU secretary general Jodi Munn Barrow.
AMSA head of inspections Bruce Whitby said international gatherings support 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,” he said.
“This seminar highlights the importance of international cooperation and effective communication.
“We will also be celebrating 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 regimes in the Asia-Pacific region. Its goal is to eliminate substandard shipping through the co-operation of its members and harmonisation of their activities.
And the Indian Ocean MOU 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 onboard ships.
