MARITIME SECTOR IS CENTRAL TO SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

THE Shipping Association of Guyana joins with the entire Maritime Community in Guyana and the rest of the world in observing World Maritime Day 2013 under the theme “Sustainable Development”. Observances for World Maritime Day 2013 are taking place around the world this week – 23 to 27 September.

The theme was chosen by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) specifically to give substance to the concept of sustainable development which was the main outcome of the 2012 United Nations Conference in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organisation, Mr. Koji Sekimizu, said this week that the maritime sector as a whole “is central to any future development in the global supply chain, the complex mechanism that enables today’s inter-dependent, global economy to function”.

Maritime transportation, he pointed out, is the world’s most reliable, cross-global, cost-effective and energy-efficient mass transportation medium. The oceans, seas and rivers generally provide the means for transporting energy, materials, foods and industrial products, proving that maritime transport is central to any effort or programme aimed at sustainable development. 
This concept is certainly not confined to the operation of ships and boats, but encompasses all the activities that are vital to supporting the shipping industry, such as maritime traffic management systems, global communication systems, ports and terminals and multi-modal connections. In addition to shipbuilding and ship repairing, consistent education and training of seafarers and boat operators in related industries (including fishing and passenger ferrying) is just as vital to the maritime industry.
Of course, search and rescue services, maritime salvage companies, security agencies, coast guards and maritime law enforcement agencies also play very key roles in defining and achieving a sustainable Maritime Transportation System.
The S.A.G. takes this opportunity to applaud the efforts of the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) for the aggressive outreach programme it is conducting in response to the rise in river accidents and incidents which resulted in loss of life on too many occasions. Terminal operators have been constantly seeking the means to upgrade Port Security, and the plan to modernize the Demerara Harbour remains a key agenda item at every consultation on Guyana’s maritime sector.

Every year the International Maritime Organization (IMO) observes World Maritime Day. In Guyana the Shipping Association grasps the opportunity to place a spotlight on the importance of shipping, port development and safety. The Maritime Transportation System already contributes significantly to the three pillars of sustainable development – social, environmental and economic. Lasting sustainability in the Guyanese context requires broader maritime safety and security policies, environmental protection, and closer examination of the role of new technologies in port operations, even of energy efficiency and conservation.
The SAG takes this opportunity to again emphasise the absolute importance of fast tracking the general development of Port Georgetown, more specifically the dredging of the Navigational Channel for the direct benefit of our importers and exporters, and ultimately for every citizen of Guyana who must bear end product costs.