Posts

OECS sailing in the right direction

Maritime Technology Cooperation Centre Caribbean First Eastern Sub-Regional Workshop was held in Antigua and Barbuda from March 13-14, 2018. OECS countries were represented in this workshop. St. Kitts and Nevis was represented by Mr. Nigel Williams – Department of Maritime Affairs and Ms. Tricia Greaux – Department of Marine Resources.

Opening remarks were given by Ms. Vivian Rambarath-Parasram, Director and Head Maritime Technology Cooperation Centre (MTCC) Caribbean who expressed her gratitude for the participation of the countries. “We are the first generation to feel the impact of climate change and probably the last that can do something about it…Climate change is the single biggest thing that humans have ever done on this planet, and the one thing that needs to be bigger than that, is our movement to stop it!” Mr. Jose Javier Leegarra- Delegation of the European Union to Barbados, the Eastern Caribbean States, OECS and CARICOM/CARIFORUM.

Mr. Colin Young- Regional Maritime Advisor, International Maritime Organization (IMO) indicated “Today we live in a world in which new technology seems poised to have a transforming impact on all our lives. Shipping is no exception. Technology holds the key to a safer and more sustainable future for shipping.” Presentations included; an overview of the Caribbean MOU on Port State Control, MTCC Caribbean and Climate Change Mitigation,  Data verification with the use of full mission engine room simulators, MTCC Caribbean’s data collection process and pilot project challenges and proposed mitigation strategies. Results were shared from the 1st Regional Workshop in relation to the Eastern sub-region, and discussions about the approaches to reducing greenhouse gas emissions from ships were explored.

The second day consisted of country report presentations on the implementation of MARPOL Annex VI from Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Dominica. Followed by Final plenary and certification distribution. Ambassador Dwight Gardiner – Director/ Registrar General, Antigua and Barbuda Department of Maritime Services and Merchant Shipping  “The onus is on all of us here present to go back to our respective countries, our various agencies and to ensure that full support is given to this initiative. We must commit to ensuring the effective implementation of the MARPOL convention and specifically Annex VI.”

Mr. Jose Javier Leegarra

Mr. Colin Young

Ambassador Dwight Gardiner

Ms. Vivian Rambarath-Parasram

Head table

All participants of the workshop

OECS Country Representatives

/by

Ocean Governance within the Caribbean

The Marine Studies of the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT), Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard, The National Gas Company of Trinidad and Tobago Limited, and Well Services Petroleum Company Ltd hosted the inaugural “Enhancing Ocean Governance in the Caribbean Region”  symposium from June 29-30, 2017. There are 12 participating territories from across the region in attendance and Ms Tricia Greaux – Department of Marine Resources and Mr Nigel Williams- Department of Maritime Affairs are representing St.Kitts and Nevis.

The opening ceremony consisted of several remarks from high ranking Government officials from Ministries of Legal, Defense, Coast Guard and Education as well as the President of Trinidad and Tobago His Excellency Anthony Thomas Aquinas Carmona, ORTT, SC.

Presentations on The status of Ocean Governance in the wider Caribbean and Challenges to Effective Implementation included; The Cartagena Convention: A Caribbean Ocean Governance Framework by Dr. Lorna Inniss, Piracy and Armed Robbery by Judge James L. Kateka, Support to Implementation: IMO’s Integrated Technical Cooperation Programme by Mr Colin Young, Ocean Governance- The Role of the Maritime Services Division by Lieutenant Commander Ronald Alfred. Prior to several panel discussions were presentations on Jurisdictional challenges and Management of resources in the wider Caribbean Sea.

The symposium concludes with action items that were initiated by the partners and territories to play a role in Ocean Governance of the wider Caribbean region.

 

St.Kitts and Nevis representatives at the Ocean Governance workshop

/by

Shipping out Climate Change

 

The first regional workshop  on Climate Change Mitigation in Maritime Sector for MTCC Caribbean (Maritime Technology Cooperation Centre) and The Global MTCC Network (GMN) with support from the European Union (EU), International Maritime Organization (IMO) was hosted at the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT)  from June 27-28, 2017. The conference had participants from 12 territories across the region and Ms Tricia Greaux – Department of Marine Resources and Mr Nigel Williams- Department of Maritime Affairs are representing St.Kitts and Nevis.

The MARPOL Annex VI is a focus of the workshop; climate change indicators such as sea level rise, coastal zone degradation, severe storms and increased temperatures and exploring the impacts of both land and marine based emissions.

“Protect our natural resources…since the blue Caribbean sea joints us rather than separates us” said Mr. Ronald Alfred, Director Maritime Services Division, Trinidad and Tobago.

The importance of this project on a regional level is due to the inter and intra trading within the Caribbean and its impacts on industrial development.The MTCC Caribbean objective is to address the mitigation of emissions in the Maritime sector, focus on the Caribbean as an Emission Controlled Area, facilitate the uptake of available energy efficient technology throughout the Caribbean region, harmonize the approach to data gathering and information sharing, and to endure the commitment to promoting sustainable shipping in the region.

The outcomes of the workshop include understanding the project’s objectives and initiating pilot projects, conducting a needs analysis, creating a framework for implementation with the Caribbean territories thereby encouraging buy-in for the project objectives.

 

 

Climate Change Mitigation in Maritime Sector workshop participants

St.Kitts and Nevis participants in the Climate Change Mitigation in Maritime Sector workshop

/by