People play a central role in the development of new technologies to help shipping meet its environmental goals and protect the marine environment, say Jamaican maritime leaders.
As the maritime community comes together to celebrate World Maritime Day with its theme of New Technologies for Greener Shipping, Jamaica’s Transport Ministry and Maritime Authority have stressed the importance of ensuring people are also at the heart of maritime technological advances.
Jamaica’s Minister of Transport and Mining, the Hon. Audley Shaw, CD, MP, pledged that “we will leave no one behind,” as he endorsed the green transition of the maritime sector into a sustainable future.
In his World Maritime Day message, Minister Shaw pointed out that, as a Small Island Developing State, the ocean is an invaluable resource for Jamaica and, in Jamaica’s case, this area is 23 times the country’s land mass.
It is therefore imperative that we support and implement mitigation strategies to reduce the maritime transport carbon footprint
he said, adding that “in an era where technology is the driving force behind many economies and sectors, the maritime sector is no different, and we must develop and implement new technology to work toward our goals of having greener, safer and more sustainable maritime spaces.”
Furthermore, addressing the World Maritime Day theme, Rear Admiral Brady observed that”
While the digitalisation and automation of shipping processes can help shipping meet its environmental targets, including reducing harmful emissions and preserving biodiversity, we must not forget that seafarers need support to embrace change and learn new skills
However, he commented that shipping must “ensure people are central to our focus as we work towards achieving a sustainable maritime sector and protecting our marine environment for generations to come.”
