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MARAD observes World Maritime Day
…focuses on safety on the country’s waterways
By Zena Henry
The Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) yesterday observed Maritime Day 2014 with the rest of the world and placed specific focus on the effective implementation of International Maritime Organization (IMO) Convention.
Some of the marine cadets being trained for future pilot and marine operator slots.
Minister of Works Robeson Benn who gave a special address during an exhibition ceremony in the Transport and Harbours Department compound, expressed to members of the maritime sector that significant strides have been made in this particular area, but highlighted that safety and security remains a major area of concern.
The Minister spoke extensively about being up to par with international maritime codes and standards so that there could be smooth operations locally.
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has, over the years, developed and adopted new international conventions, some 53 in all, which are aimed at ensuring that international shipping keeps up to date with technical and technological advances in safety. This seeks to addresses the ever increasing number of environmental challenges and concerns of the organisation’s Member Governments, and that it facilitates the payment of compensation in appropriate situations.
Minister Benn said that it has been recognized that the country is lagging behind in compliance with the IMO regulations, both in the areas of legislation and ground operations. He noted that the task of maritime operators is an important one in ensuring the functioning of Ports, hence continued upgrade of infrastructural facilities and the training of mariners and pilots, among others, is ongoing.
The Minister explained that Guyana’s economy is mainly an export-driven one, and most of the exports represent bulk cargo that has to go through channels wharves, harbours which are influenced by heavy siltation.
“We do not have good natural harbours so the work of the maritime administration, the work of the mariners and of the pilots, the work of the agency overall, is an extremely critical one in ensuring good livelihood of the people and economy.”
Another important area of focus is safety at sea and on the waterways.
“This has also become a responsibility of MARAD. This is a particularly difficult area,” the Minister said, “Since we would all agree that Guyanese still have not a good enough appreciation of what it takes to operate in a safe manner. We are careless with our own personal safety, particularly in our working environment.”
It is for this reason the Minister said, that great distress appears when we have loss of lives at sea and on the rivers.
“This is why we have given MARAD the imperative to ensure we improve the safety standards on the ships at sea, on the waterways, and that we also make the personal intervention at schools and villages and other places in the interior which depend on waterway transportation.”
The Minister said that 1000 free lifejackets have already been given out to places across the country and 1000 more are expected.
MARAD also recognised some water taxi (speed boat) operators for various contributions to speedboat operations that work from Georgetown to Vreed-en-Hoop, Parika, among others.
The marine agency also had on display equipment, handbooks, rule books and educational items which all pertained to marine life and operation. Several associated staffers, particularly cadets on training to be pilots and marine operators were also available to explain the various gadgets used in their operations.
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