Work together to meet sustainability goals – Brady

THE SHIPPING industry is urged to work together to protect the planet in the same way that it is pulling together now to support the world in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.

I wish to praise shipping’s international efforts to ensure populations all over the globe remained supplied with essential goods, including food, fuel, and medical supplies, and I urge maritime nations to emulate this collaboration to meet industry-wide sustainability goals, consistent with the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

I endorse the words of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Secretary-General Kitack Lim who said he has “been encouraged by the unprecedented level of cooperation and collaboration in the maritime world” during the pandemic. We must build on this cooperation and work together to achieve more sustainable goals to benefit our industry, our communities and our environment.

The shipping industry, with the support of the IMO regulatory framework, has already started the transition towards a sustainable future. IMO has adopted, and will continue to develop, measures to cut greenhouse gas emissions, reduce the sulphur content of ships’ fuel oil, implement the Ballast Water Management Convention, protect the polar regions, reduce marine plastic litter, improve the efficiency of shipping through the electronic exchange of information, meet the challenges of the digitalisation of shipping and enhance the active participation of women in the maritime community.

Jamaica has implemented the Ballast Water Management Convention with the passage of the Ballast Water Management Act 2019. Additionally,

Jamaica as a Lead Pilot Country for the GEFUNDP-IMO GloMEEP Project has conducted ship and port baseline studies on emissions, developed a maritime strategy and legislation is being drafted which will address the sulphur content of fuel.

GloMEEP is a GEF-UNDP-IMO project aimed at supporting the uptake and implementation of energy efficiency measures for shipping, thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions from shipping.

Jamaica also participates in the work of the Maritime Technology Cooperation Centre of the Caribbean which promotes capacity building for climate mitigation in the maritime shipping industry with the aim of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) and other emissions as well as promoting energy efficiency in the maritime shipping industry. It is expected that legislation will also very shortly be finalised which will address marine plastic litter.

SUPPORT FOR WOMEN

Jamaica continues to support the active participation of women in the maritime community through the Women in Maritime Association Caribbean (WIMAC) and its Jamaica chapter. Through its membership of WIMAC, Jamaica supports the regional group of female maritime professionals committed to increasing the performance, participation, and contribution of women in the maritime sector.

Steps are also being taken to improve the facilitation of maritime traffic with Jamaica’s participation in the IDB sponsored Maritime Single Window (MSW) Project. The MSW when implemented, will simplify ship clearance procedures resulting in significant savings for the sector.

Jamaica is an active participant at the IMO and will continue to work closely with our CARICOM partners to implement IMO’s initiatives in the Caribbean Sea.

Jamaica’s shipping industry is committed to work together to support the sustainability of this vital sector.

REAR ADMIRAL (RET’D) PETER BRADY Director General Maritime Authority of Jamaica