‘Maritime community must adopt technology to stay relevant and sustainable’

The Directorate of Electronic Media and Publication (DEMP), in collaboration with the Maritime Training Institute (MTI) and the Nautical Institute of Pakistan, organised a seminar to commemorate World Maritime Day, an International Maritime Organisation (IMO) event, at a hotel in Karachi on Thursday.

A statement said that the seminar was orchestrated to celebrate International Maritime Day. The IMO acts as a primary platform for the entire global community and ensured a binding contract for maritime safety, that was achieved in 1974 by officiating a treaty.

World Maritime Day is celebrated through specific and varying themes, selected by the secretary general of the IMO to call worldwide attention to maritime development efforts. The theme for 2024 is ‘Navigating the future: Safety first’.

World Maritime day is dedicated to focusing on the importance of shipping and creating a more viable and sustainable maritime future with adopting technological advancement as part and parcel of the maritime community.

Sarah Mooney, Deputy High Commissioner of the British High Commission, congratulated the Pakistan maritime community on organising the event and said Karachi with its boundless potential remains a hub.

Pakistan’s blue economy being incorporated into its national economy is quintessential for the country’s general growth. “Pakistan has a coastline of over a 1,000km which is home to a number of different species of marine mammals, plants and deep mineral resources,” she said.

“The blue economy has not yet tapped its full potential which stands at a generating a staggering one billion dollars for Pakistan economy.” She also said that on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the 1974 solace convention, a nautical milestone, the theme on nautical safety partly reflects the collective efforts for the entire maritime community.

She congratulated Pakistan on ratifying the Hong Kong Convention, a step that is crucial in ensuring that ships at the end of their lives do not pose a threat to the safety of the environment. She further mentioned that the World Navy’s Commodore Anderson just a week back was in Pakistan to congratulate the country for the work they do as part of the 46 Nations CMF (Protecting Lives of Sea- East of Pakistan, left of Tanzania).

President Institute for Chartered Shipbrokers Kevin Shakesheff (UK) pointed out how transportation of goods continues to grow globally and growing economies are a signal that we need to fill our seas with bigger, better and more robust ships and vessels in order to meet the transportation requirement, which amounts to 80% of all goods globally being transported through ships. Future is hybrid, and ships in the future will be manned by fewer people onboard. Thus, a mechanised future means that the maritime community must absorb technology to stay relevant and sustainable.

Irum Tanveer Odho, DG (PR) Press Information Department (PID), addressing the seminar on behalf of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MOIB), said it was a privilege to address the maritime community on the auspicious occasion of World Maritime Day. “We come together under the theme, ‘Navigating the Future - Safety First,’ which emphasizes the importance of safety, sustainability, and innovation in our maritime operations.” She emphasised the need to enhance and focus on maritime safety. “Climate change is a global challenge, with profound implications for our coasts, oceans and seas.”

It was further noted that Pakistan's unique geographic position — with warm, deep-water ports expanding over a 1,000km-long coastline — placed it at the center of global maritime affairs, which has a direct impact and poses challenges for Pakistan in today’s rapidly changing climate.

Climate change is a global challenge with profound implications for our oceans, coastlines, and communities. As a responsible member of the international community, Pakistan has introduced several national policies like blue economy initiatives, including sustainable fisheries, marine renewable energy and marine bio-diversity conservation, to safeguard our environment and promote sustainable development.

“National forest policy 2015 aims to increase the forest power and to mitigate the impacts of climate change.”

Irum Tanveer inaugurated a documentary presented by DEMP on the critical role played mangroves for Pakistan, its economy, social cohesion and overall safety. Called “Guardians of our coastline”, it is an insight on mangroves that act as a natural safeguard for climate disintegration.

Concluding the seminar, Syed Ahmad Mahmoodi, CEO “M” International Group, paid homage to the significance of safety for the maritime community. He stated how Pakistan’s maritime history is longstanding and now as they step into the new era, it is crucial to uphold the notion of safety. He mentioned how the seminar was a testament to the work being put by all stakeholders of the maritime community towards a brighter, safer and sustainable future for Pakistan and the world, and to ensure the global maritime legacy and its thrives and flourishes.