Strategic approach to regional cooperation on maritime safety, security, marine environmental protection and search and rescue.
Maritime executives and experts from 17 countries and six international organizations have issued the Manila 2010 Statement anchored on enhancing strategic approach to regional cooperation on maritime safety, security, marine environmental protection and search and rescue.
The 11th Asia-Pacific Heads of Maritime Safety Agencies (APHoMSA) Forum held from June 16-19 at the Visayas Ballroom of the Sofitel Philippine Plaza Hotel was concluded on Saturday.
Heads and top officials of maritime agencies from Australia, Canada, China, Chile, Hong Kong, Fiji, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Singapore, the United States, Vanuatu, Vietnam, as well as international organizations participated in the three-day activity.
Participating international organization included the International Maritime Organization (IMO), International Labor Organization (ILO), International Association of Lighthouse Authorities (IALA), Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia Information Sharing Center (ReCAAP ISC) and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC).
The body also acknowledged the significance of active participation and information sharing among the Asia Pacific countries.
Unified efforts to reinforce maritime safety, maritime security, marine environmental protection and search and rescue tasks were further encouraged.
The 11th APHoMSA Forum, in the Manila 2010 Statement, declared the following.
1.Encourages wider participation of Asia-Pacific countries in future APHoMSA fora.
2.Recognizes that APHoMSA members share a common understanding and interest on relevant matters particularly on safety of ships and offshore platforms, effective methods of addressing marine pollution, importance of addressing security concerns, and importance of pursuing collective actions in order to achieve common goals and objectives, and agrees to explore opportunities for greater collaboration among APHoMSA members on maritime issues.
3.Notes the importance of fostering a safety culture with operators being encouraged to take greater responsibility for the safety of their ships and their crew.
4.Notes the issues and concerns in the maritime domain and calls for coordinated efforts among countries of the Asia Pacific region.
5.Recognizes that nearly half of the worlds merchant fleet is domiciled in Asia Pacific and 13 of the worlds top 20 ports are also located in Asia Pacific, handling 36 percent of the worlds containers.
6.Recognizes the need to address the problem of piracy since it is becoming increasingly difficult in particular off the Coast of Somalia, Gulf of Aden, Horn of Africa and in the wider expanses of the Western Indian Ocean and notes the contribution by Asia Pacific countries in combating piracy and armed robbery against ships in waters of their region as well as off the coast of Somalia.
7.Underscores the importance of implementing the Long-range identification and tracking of ships (LRIT) System and notes that IMO is establishing the distribution facility for the provision of LRIT information to security forces in the Gulf of Aden and the western Indian Ocean.
8.Reaffirms the role of the IMO in developing global regulations (as opposed to unilateral or regional measures) and emphasizes the implementation of IMO conventions.
9.Recognizes the role of human element in maritime security and safety and encourages countries to consider ratifying and applying key ILO instruments, including Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 (MLC, 2006), ILO Convention 185 (Seafarers Identity Documents Convention, 2003), and ILO Convention 188 (Work in Fishing Convention, 2007). Regional cooperation is encouraged in this regard.
10. Notes the current alarming shortage of maritime professionals. Improving the perception of the general public on the maritime industry and its profession is of paramount importance in attracting new maritime industry recruits and sustaining development of the maritime industry.
11. Agrees that the annual APHoMSA forum plays a vital role in promoting the safety of life and property at sea at the global and regional levels.
12. Acknowledges the crucial role of the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia Information Sharing Center (ReCAAP ISC) and other partner organizations in decreasing the incidents of piracy and sea robbery in the Asia Pacific region.
13.Notes that lessons learned in oil spill response contribute to the review and revision of applicable regulations.
14.Commits to promote safe, efficient and environmentally responsible transportation systems and to continue to promote education and training in the maritime community.
15.Acknowledges that in addressing the challenges of promoting safety of life at sea, marine environmental protection, maritime security, maritime search and rescue, and the effective conduct of law enforcement, the primary key is the integration of efforts and cooperation of concerned agencies.
16. Acknowledges that effective communication and back-up systems are key factors in providing necessary information to be used especially in responding to major natural disasters.
17. Recognizes the challenges to maritime safety, maritime security and marine environmental protection as the competition for use of the marine environment and shipping increases.
18. Recognizes further IMOs capacity-building initiatives in the region through the Integrated Technical Cooperation Programme (ITCP) and highlights the need for IMO to focus on Pacific Island Countries and Territories.
19. Agrees that Tripartite Technical Expert Group and Co-operative Mechanisms are important platforms for maintaining navigational safety and environmental protection of Straits of Malacca and Singapore as it reflects the commitment to navigational safety, marine environmental protection and facilitation of the movement of ships in the Straits.
20. Extends its appreciation to the Government of the Philippines, particularly the Philippine Coast Guard, for graciously hosting the APHoMSA 2010, and accepts the offers of the Government of the Republic of Korea and Government of Vietnam to host the APHoMSA forum in 2011 and in 2012, respectively.
The next Aphomsa Forum will be hosted by South Korea in 2011 and Vietnam in 2012. The Philippine Coast Guard hosted this years meeting and was chaired by its Commandant, Admiral Wilfredo D. Tamayo.
Source:shiptalk
