Examining the evolution of maritime safety standards

On September 27, the Maritime Authority of Jamaica joins with the local and international maritime community in celebrating World Maritime Day. This day marks an important calendar event as it affords the maritime community an opportunity to articulate and show some of what it does, while also allowing for reflection and rededication to the many tasks that face shipping, such as maritime safety, marine environmental protection including ship emissions ,and seafarers' welfare and working conditions.

This year's focus and theme, 'IMO: 100 Years After the Titanic' relates to maritime safety as the International Maritime Organisation's (IMO) mission is to enhance safety, security and the protection of the marine environment. The theme looks at the evolution of maritime safety standards 100 years after the infamous Titanic sank on April 14, 1912, and what strides have been made to make shipping safer since then. The major outcome of that disaster was the adoption in 1914 of the International Convention of Safety of Life at Sea, to which Jamaica is a party, and which has been enshrined in our local law - the Shipping Act 1998. The SOLAS Convention, as it is called, has gone through numerous amendments over the years as the IMO has sought to improve the safety measures as a result of the application of new technology and, sadly, in reaction to accidents which have occurred. Of note is the incident of the Costa Concordia which occurred off the Italian coast in January of this year, with uncanny similarities to the Titanic. The IMO awaits the accident investigation by Italy before it looks at the possible strengthening again of the SOLAS Convention to, hopefully, prevent similar incidents, which involve the lives of so many passengers and crew on large cruise ships.

We at the authority ensure that international vessels that call at our ports and those that operate locally, including those in the tourist industry, do so in a manner that ensures safety of the vessel, the cargo and passengers as well as the environment. Jamaica also participates in regional and international efforts to ensure and enhance safety. Jamaica is a member of the regional Caribbean Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control and hosts the secretariat at the offices of the Maritime Authority. The country is also a key player in the deliberations of the IMO, being a Category C member of its governing body, the council, as well as having representatives on key committees within the IMO, where it chairs the Standards of Training and Watchkeeping Committee for years.

So as we reflect this week on shipping safety, let us take note of the strides that have been made in terms of ship construction, navigation, seafarer training, the development of technology, regulations and other operational standards, all geared at ensuring the safety of shipping, and chart a course as to the next steps to ensure shipping remains one of the safest modes of transport, and what we can do to make shipping even safer.

Peter Brady (Rear Admiral ret'd)

Director General, The Maritime Authority of Jamaica