The Maritime Authority has spread awareness on the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from ships in a recent workshop in Suva facilitated by the Pacific Islands Development Forum.

The workshop last month, hosted by the Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji (MSAF) and Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, sought to advance Government’s five year and 20 year National Development Plan.

Assistant Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Vijay Nath, opened the workshop, named the Pacific Island International Maritime Organisation Technical Officers Workshop.

The plan’s strategies include:

• Support transition towards low carbon transport
• Improving operational efficiency of ships
• Re-introducing age limit on second-hand ships
• Support technology advancements

“It is well recognised that shipping accounts for 2% of GHG global emissions,” said MSAF chief executive officer John Tunidau.

“It (emissions) continues to increase in parallel with the continuing growth in world trade and number of newly constructed ships.

“As such, it is important that the shipping sector addresses the issue of shipping emission by way of short term and long-term measures since it is of paramount concern to the international community, including Fiji.

“Therefore, shipping has to do its part to contribute to achieving the UNFCCC Paris Agreement that is holding the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 °C.”

The Marine Environment Protection Committee recently approved a roadmap for developing a comprehensive strategy on reducing GHG emissions, according to the International Maritime Organisation.

Edited by Jonathan Bryce

Feedback:  sheldon.chanel@fijisun.com.fj