IMO plans for Caribbean in 2017
2017, March 1: In order to assist Caribbean states to meet their obligations under the instruments to which they are party and in support of the World Maritime Day theme in 2017, Connecting Ships, Ports and People , the IMO plans to deliver the following activities in the Caribbean region during the current year.
1. Senior Maritime Administrators Workshop
The objective of this workshop is to update the knowledge of senior maritime administration officials on the latest regulatory and other developments in the international maritime sector. It will also facilitate the development of a prioritized list for technical assistance to the region in the 2018-2019 biennium.
2. Aids to Navigation Training Course
This course is concerned with the verification of compliance with the requirements of IMO Conventions regarding the safety of ships, navigation and life at sea. It covers the requirements for the initial, annual intermediate and periodical surveys as specified in the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974 (SOLAS);
3. Port State Inspection Workshop
The purpose of this workshop is to update the knowledge of Caribbean port state inspectors and senior maritime administration officials on the latest developments relating to ship inspections. It is designed to facilitate the exchange of information between port state inspectors within the Caribbean as well as between Caribbean administrations.
The workshop will ensure that Caribbean port state inspectors are in possession of the latest information on the requirements of IMO relating to port state control and the latest developments worldwide. It will also ensure that the senior maritime administration officials are in possession of the latest information in relation to the implementation of IMO instruments, in accordance with the IMO Instruments Implementation Code.
4. Environmental Sensitivity Index (ESI) Workshop
The objectives of the workshop are, inter alia, to:
* show the important role that Environmental Sensitivity Index (ESI) maps provide in the overall contingency planning process;
* provide spill planners and responders with critical spill response information (e.g. sensitive locations, response/clean-up strategies, spill equipment locations) in an easily understood, graphical representation;
* provide support information on biological, geomorphologic and human-use resources, as well as spill response and clean-up methods, in an easily understood, graphical representation;
* provide well-designed ESI maps in Geographic Information System (GIS) format that will facilitate the risk assessment and planning process during an oil spill response; and,
* provide information on how to use and update ESI maps.
Ultimately, more efficient shipping, working in partnership with a port sector supported by governments, will be a major driver towards global stability and sustainable development for the good of all people. []
