The Hindu Business Line : `Maritime trade, least polluting'

Shipping industry is one of the most environment-friendly means of transportation and it promises rapid and more uniform economic growth globally. Delivering the inaugural address at the seminar organised on the occasion of World Maritime Day, Dr Jancy James, Vice-Chancellor of Mahatma Gandhi University, emphasised the need to have quality training imparted to upcoming seamen/ship's officers, so that the maritime industry can be run in a safe and secure manner.

Seamen should not restrict their life on ships alone, but should fully involve themselves in social development.

The maritime community should contribute meaningfully to society, she said. Maritime trade should strive to fulfil the needs and aspirations of the poor and impoverished sections of society.

In this age, the maritime community should play a bigger role and see that the fruits of globalisation reach the needy sections of society and results in their empowerment.

The seminar was organised in the backdrop of the World Millennium Summit convened in September 2005, in conjunction with the sixtieth annual session of the UN Assembly, seeking important commitments in debt relief, quick-impact projects and developing countries plans for achieving eight goals set out as the Millennium Development Goals.

Plans maritime body

The seminar decided to take up a set of recommendations to the Kerala and Central Governments for implementation. It was decided to form a Kerala State Maritime Board, which will be entrusted with tasks like ensuring that inland vessels are certified as safe for operation under the guidance of the Mercantile Marine Department, which is the representative of the DG Shipping.

The seminar also decided that pollution caused by houseboats and tour operators in inland waters of Kerala is to be reduced by incorporating effective anti-pollution measures, under rules similar to international regulations. Courses were to be conducted for inland vessel operators, which was to be examined and certified under the guidance of the representatives of the Director General of Shipping.

The seminar pointed out that for safe and secure marine operations under the new stage of International Ship Port Security Code, containers should be subject to sensing instruments and scanning of containers should be made strict.

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