The theme "Sustainable shipping for a sustainable planet" for World Maritime Day 2020 is apt. It ties closely to the United Nation's 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda of which this year marks the beginning of a decade of action and delivery. This agenda is a call to action for people, planet and prosperity while protecting the planet.
In Brunei Darussalam's context especially in maritime and shipping, this means developing strategies to build economic growth, creating job opportunities and ensuring safety for all. This is whilst we continue to keep our supply chain connectivity open during this pandemic and also for COVID-19 recovery.
Building economic growth goes hand in hand with new maritime and port related businesses. This in turn will create new job opportunities. The Strategic Plan for the Ministry of Transport and Infocomunications (MTIC 2025) sets the target to establish three (3) new maritime and port related businesses in the maritime and port sector by 2025.
Meanwhile, in ensuring safety for all, maintaining high safety standards in transport is one the key objectives under MTIC 2025 and, through the Maritime and Ports Authority of Brunei Darussalam (MPABD), aims to implement corrective actions and close the audit findings by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) by 2025.
The last decade has seen an increase in fishing industry and fishing activities among small vessels which has seen a consistent number of additional two hundred (200) new registrations of fishing vessels every year. This recent development posed a growing challenge to ensure these vessels especially small boats operate safely at sea. A number of incidents over the last year indicates the need to address this issue urgently. MPABD in cooperation with relevant agencies are currently working to address the issues in providing information such as weather warnings and maritime safety information, ensuring the crew operating the vessels are equipped with valid certificates of competency, as well as adopting technology which will provide effective platform for communication as well as emergency response. Technology needs to be complemented with effective and efficient response in any emergency such as a well-coordinated search and rescue amongst relevant stakeholders. MPABD has conducted maritime safety exercises and will continue to test its emergency protocols by expanding the exercises to include cooperation with our neighbouring country.
Without a doubt, we have a substantial list of initiatives and action plans to be implemented by 2025. It is encouraging to note that the resilience of the global maritime sector, shipping and port, will play a key role in mitigating the unprecedented effects of the global pandemic, and that we remain strong in our pursuit to achieve the 2030 UN Sustainable Goals.
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