GMA, MTCC- Africa collaborate to fight alarming shipping emissions

In recent years, studies have shown that gas emitted from shipping related activities are on a steady increase globally and developing countries lack the capacity to develop energy efficient mechanisms to improve on gas emissions in the shipping industry.

It is in this vein that the International Maritime Organisation, IMO, the UN body responsible for regulating shipping and maritime activities, in 2013 adopted a resolution on the promotion of technical co-operation and transfer of technology aimed at improving the energy of ships. The resolution made it possible to provide technical assistance to developing countries in areas of capacity building.

Recently, in Accra, the Maritime Technology Cooperation Centre for Africa Region, a body created for institutional collaboration among countries in Africa, in association with the Ghana Maritime Authority has organised a workshop which was aimed at creating awareness and equipping participants in mitigating the harmful threats of climate change.

The Project Director for MTTC Africa, said, the IMO has acknowledged the need to mitigate maritime threats to climate by helping developing states.

“One of the projects that the international communities came up with, led by International Maritime Organisation, a UN body charge with safety and Maritime environment protection is taking a bold decision to have a global MTTC network in other to address some of these challenges that are facing more specifically the small island states, the least developing countries through technical operations and technological transfer” he said.

The Director General of GMA, Kwame Owusu, urged the participants to bring the global objective of cutting down fuel emissions particularly those on sea, to success.

“I solicit your full participation so that the ultimate goal of reducing GAG emissions from international shipping for better environment will be achieved,” he stated.

The Deputy Minister for Transport, Daniel Titus Glover expressed faith in the capability of the training program to build capacity for stakeholders in the Maritime industry in effective ways to curb this problem.

“I am hopeful that this workshop will make clearer the harmful effect of gas emission from ship sourced activities and create the necessary awareness required to promote stakeholders in the Maritime Industry,” he said.

He urged the participants to produce workable reports out of the workshop.