Workshop Focus: Safety At Sea
The safety of passengers in ships continues to be a concern for the Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji (MSAF). Especially, for Fijians in maritime communities which heavily depends on ships to transport goods and services.
A Maritime Safety and Energy Efficiency workshop is underway in Suva to improve the safety characteristics of local ships not only in
Fiji but for other countries in the Pacific as well. This is under the umbrella of the Pacific Island Domestic Ship Safety project by the Geoscience, Energy and Maritime division of the Pacific Community, and funded by New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. While opening the workshop, MSAF’s manager ships inspection, Captain Sesoni Komaisoso, said safety of passengers was important.
“This project is aligned to the Safety of Lives At Sea Convention and in particular the ISM Code,” he said.
“The code is a management system implemented to ensure the safety of life and property at sea and maritime environment protection from pollution within the shipping industry.”
Mr Komaisoso said this system had been domesticated as the Safe Ship Management System.
“It details the various requirements that need to be followed like the establishment of a managerial committee to oversee the various proceedings,” he said.
“Ensure that the managerial officers carry out their outlined duties appropriately.
“Corroborate the differences between the outlined responsibilities and the actual performance to resolve them.” The week-long workshop will also further provide stakeholders opportunities to grow knowledge and understanding of International Maritime law and regulations.