‘New approach critical to maritime security’

Good maritime security should not be seen as an end in itself, it is a means to an end, International Maritime Organisation (IMO) has said.

According to IMO, security enables sustainable maritime development, “which supports improved and sustainable economic development”.

This was the message delivered by IMO’s Chris Trelawny, who was speaking at the International Sea Power and Security Symposium 2016, held in Istanbul, Turkey recently.

In his presentation which focused on “Collaboration for Maritime Security”, Trelawny outlined IMO’s comprehensive capacity-building programmes, working with IMO Member States globally to enhance maritime safety, security and facilitation capabilities and to counter illicit maritime activities both bilaterally and regionally, “in cooperation with the United Nations agencies, offices and programmes, regional bodies, national development partners and other organizations”.

He highlighted one of the challenges, namely that maritime security and maritime law enforcement are often seen as departmental issues – issues for the navy, or the coast guard, or the police, or the maritime authority, with those agencies competing for scarce resources, rather than being part of a national, multi-agency response to developing the maritime sector.

A multi-agency, multidisciplinary approach is needed, he added

Meanwhile, IMO Secretary-General, Kitack Lim shared a platform recently with India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the launch of the first maritime Indian Summit in Mumbai.

The event, according to IMO brings together stakeholders from diverse sectors of India’s maritime community to explore opportunities to promote growth and investment in the sector.

Lim explained that a successful shipping and port sector signified that a country was thriving.
A policy to support these areas would be of great benefit to the country as a whole, not just to the maritime industry itself, he added.

He stressed the need for collaborative planning and praised Prime Minister Modi for the positive steps he and his government have taken to encourage investment and development throughout India’s maritime sector.