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Ports, Navigation and Marine Pollution:
Background:
The Red Sea and Gulf of Aden carry around 7 per cent of global seaborne trade and a significant portion of the world’s crude and refined oil cargoes. The Region, therefore, dangerously faces a constant threat from oil spills and maritime accidents. In response to this, PERSGA designed its Navigation and Maritime Programme to increase the safety of international shipping in the RSGA Region and to introduce measures to reduce impacts from marine pollution. More specifically, the Programme focuses its efforts on the following:
- Adoption of relevant international, regional and national legislation and policy
Completion of hydrographical surveys and review of routing measures
Development of navigation aids, traffic and safety systems
Ballast water measures
Oill Spill Contingency Planning and Accident Response mechanisms
Establishment and strengthening of the Marine Emergency Mutual Aid Centre (2006)
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Rationale |
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Contracting parties shall:
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“ take all appropriate measures in conformity with the present Convention and with generally recognized international rules to prevent, abate and combat pollution in the Sea Area caused by intentional or accidental discharges from ships and shall ensure effective compliance in the Sea Area with generally recognized international rules relating to the control of this type of pollution including load-on-top, segregated ballast and crude oil washing procedures for tankers...” (Jeddah Convention Article IV “Pollution from Ships”)
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Implementation:
PERSGA works closely with International Maritime Organisation, the National Authorities of its Member States, the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office and the private sector to implement its Navigation activities. It also relies on its newly-established Marine Emergency Mutual Aid Centre (MEMAC) in Egypt, which acts as a Regional resource to coordinate pollution prevention and control mechanisms among PERSGA Member States, foster collaboration, and assist States in strengthening national capacity.
Capacity Building Activities:
PERSGA, in partnership with the IMO, has organised workshops to provide training for NWG members as well as other staff and specialists from the region, including Eritrea. These meetings have helped to build regional capacity in the maritime sector and to disseminate knowledge as widely as possible. The six workshops that were held covered the following subjects:
- Hydrographic Surveying Methods and the Planning and Design of Routing Measures’ Amman, Jordon’ April 200
Marine Contingency Planning and the Ratification of IMO Conventions, Djibouti, July 2001
Port State Control, Jeddah, KSA, March 2002
Maritime Accident and Incident Investigations, Port Sudan, Sudan, March 2003
Marine Contingency Planning, Vessel Traffic Systems and Automatic Identification Aids, Hurghada - Egypt, October 2003
Marine Contingency Planning, Alexandria, Egypt, February 2004
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