The Ivorian maritime fleet includes several vessels that do not meet the safety standards recommended by the International Maritime Organization (IMO). Particularly in the maritime transport and fishing sectors, this situation represents a risk for the many players and users.
Aware of this problem, the Ivorian government, through the Ministry of Transport and more specifically the Directorate General of Maritime and Port Affairs (DGAMP), decided to address the issue with the help of experts from the International Maritime Organization (IMO). A workshop to this effect opened this Monday, August 12, 2024 in Abidjan and will run until the 16th of the month.
This workshop on the safety of ships not covered by the SOLAS Convention concerns domestic ferries (passenger ships), cargo ships and fishing vessels. During this meeting, IMO experts and DGAMP agents will work to reinforce the safety systems of these vessels, which are crucial to the protection of human lives, the preservation of maritime resources and the sustainability of local economies.
For Commander Babacar Diop, Senior Consultant of the International Maritime Organization
(IMO), who has the honor of leading this workshop, the program that will punctuate this activity is as rich as it is diversified.
“This workshop covers fundamental topics such as flag state and port state responsibilities, applicable Ivorian regulations, as well as the introduction of certain international conventions and recommendations, such as the Cape Town Agreement and the Standard Ferry Safety Rules. We will also have the opportunity to revisit the history of accidents involving Ivorian vessels not covered by the SOLAS Convention, and to analyze accident investigations, in order to draw valuable lessons for the future”, explained the IMO expert.
Continuing, he points out that this workshop is of crucial importance, in that it enables “us to understand that ships not covered by IMO conventions, although not subject to the same requirements as large commercial vessels, play a vital role in our economy.
That’s why we need to identify the common challenges and problems associated with their safety, and work together to develop appropriate solutions. The discussion on the introduction of new safety measures for these vessels, whether new or existing, will be a key moment in our exchanges”, added Commander Babacar Diop.
The IMO expert also indicated that the workshop would address the issue of the ship certification process and the drafting of summary documents to improve the safety of domestic ferries, fishing vessels and merchant ships not covered by IMO conventions. For, he says, “the recommendations and best practices that emerge will be crucial in guiding to guide our future actions”.
Commandant Babacar Diop congratulated the Ivorian state on the initiative of this workshop, which he said showed that the government was well aware of the situation.
“The Ivorian government is taking a commendable initiative here, because developing countries have often neglected legislation and regulations relating to these vessels, and we’ve realized that there are a huge number of accidents and loss of life. Over the course of this week, we’re going to make our States aware of the injunction issued to them by the United Nations under what is known as the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The State of Côte d’Ivoire has a responsibility to bring itself up to date to ensure the safety of its small vessels, in order to guarantee the safety of people and the maritime environment”, he said.
Representing Dr Celestin Serey Doh, the Minister Delegate attached to the Minister of Transport in charge of Maritime Affairs, Soro Benjamin, his Director of Cabinet, in his speech, began by thanking the International Maritime Organization for having responded favorably to the expression of needs expressed in 2023 by the DGAMP.
“Incidents and accidents involving ships not covered by the SOLAS Convention, because of their sensitivity and dangerousness, have demonstrated to the world that mastery of the instruments guaranteeing their safety is crucial. I therefore urge you to make the most of this training which, I am convinced, will enable you to acquire new skills for greater efficiency in addressing maritime safety issues”, declared the Minister’s Director of Cabinet Serey Doh to all workshop participants, before officially opening the proceedings.
Commandant Babacar Diop will be joined by Thierry Baisser, Chief Administrator of Maritime Affairs and French consultant, as well as Colonel Oumar Touré, the focal point for this activity, who will act as the national counterpart to the proposals made by Commandant Dallas Laryea of the IMO’s West Africa Office.
The workshop was opened in the presence of Colonel Julien Konan, Director General of Maritime and Port Affairs.
Source: KOACI
