MOWCA, IMO to promote maritime security, shipping in Africa

The Maritime Organisation of West and Central Africa (MOWCA) and the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) have reached an agreement on a Joint Action Plan (JAP) to promote maritime security as well as ensure safe, efficient and environment-friendly shipping in Africa.

The JAP agreement was made at the IMO headquarters in London by the organisation’s Secretary General, Kitack Lim, MOWCA’s Secretary General, Dr. Paul Adalikwu, and the transportation ministers from West and Central African countries.

Countries represented at the meeting include, Nigeria, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Democratic Republic of Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, Guinea, The Gambia, Chad, Burkina Faso and Gabon.

The two organisations agreed that the JAP be operational from 2022 to 2032 in the first phase and implemented to align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), African Maritime Transport Charter, African Integrated Maritime Strategy 2050 and the African Charter on Maritime Security, Safety and Development.

The MOWCA scribe described JAP as a bold step towards ensuring safety of ships, crew members and cargoes on African waters, especially in the West and Central African regions.

He added that the move would engender more technical cooperation between IMO and MOWCA for strategic human capital development.

Adalikwu said African countries’ commitment to new technologies for greener shipping, which is the IMO’s 2022 theme, requires a short, medium and long-term approach to environmental sustainability.

Adalikwu disclosed that JAP would focus on enhancing at regional level, implementation of extant MOWCA Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) of the Sub-Regional Integrated Coast Guard Function Network for West and Central Africa signed in Dakar 2008.

Features of JAP include, organising workshop(s) and implementing appropriate steps to harmonise legal measures across West and Central Africa, while ensuring that pirates and persons committing maritime crimes do not evade prosecution.

Others are, implementing appropriate actions to advance the delivery of MOWCA Information and Communication Centre (CINFOCOM), developing and executing a long-term road map for the creation of an African maritime organisation like the European Maritime Safety Agency endorsed by the African Union Commission (AUC), also carrying out functions in support of the AUC maritime charters and strategies, while also supporting and complementing the work of the IMO in Africa when fully operational.

Adalikwu stated other features include, implementing Corrective Actions Plans (CAP) to address audit findings and observations from the IMO Member States Audit Scheme (IMSAS), energy efficiency management and reduction of emissions from international ships, including mitigating the financial implications of implementing the IMO Greenhouse Gas Strategy and others.