NEWS ARCHIVE

MV Samoa Express dry docking at Pago Pago

MV Samoa Express conducted its dry docking at Pago Pago American Samoa from 3rd June to 15 June 2013 where the Marine Surveyor, Aisiga Nauma attended on behalf of the Ministry in ensuring that this passenger/cargo vessel is fully maintained to the safety level require under MWTI's regulations. The docking was about two weeks long to complete all the areas concerned to maintain its safety and seaworthiness before continuing its normal routine in carrying passengers and cargoes between the two islands of Upolu and Savaii as well as engaging in charter trips for Tokelau and American Samoa.

Maritime Security Training

This is one of the ongoing assistance offered by the US Coast Guard for the Maritime Industry in the Region including Samoa. The Maritime Security Training is held at Samoa Ports Authority from 18 to 20 March 2013 respectively. The emphasis is to improve response to maritime related incidents that may occur in Samoa Waters. This would be of great assistance for the Maritime Personnel in enhancing the level of understanding and refreshing their skills on relevant issues and actions appropriate to various maritime threats that might occur in our shores.

Pacific Maritime Security Conference

Fred Amoa presenting at the Pacific Maritime Conference in May 2008. The Pacific Maritime Security Conference held in Nadi, Fiji, from 12th to14th May 2008, has been hailed as a beacon of success and the standard for future maritime security meetings in the Pacific Islands region.

The wide ranging nature of matters presented and discussed at the Conference is evident of the multi-faceted nature of the maritime industry and the security concerns over these issues.

The border management and maritime security discussions proved valuable to law enforcement officials and those front-line and policy staff who are dealing with Immigration, Customs and Biosecurity matters. The experience and knowledge shared would be invaluable in dealing with security matters that have confronted the region in recent times.

The international, regional and national legal regimes were also debated and though much has been implemented, the consensus is that there is still more to be done and national legal regimes should be the focus of these activities. The legal presentation highlighted international security instruments such as the Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts Against the Safety of Maritime Navigation (SUA) Convention and Protocols, however, it noted that some of the Pacific Islands countries and territories (PICTs) have not implemented these into their national legislations. The shortage of human resources and the slow nature of the Parliamentary schedule have been identified as the main obstacles to promulgating appropriate legislations at the national level.

The Conference also provided excellent coverage of auditing standards and methodologies being used in the Pacific Islands region as well as systems used by the more developed neighbours.

The training programmes and activities have provided the region with excellent well-trained seafarers. These continue to support and supply competent maritime administrators and professionals in the region.

The presence of personnel from the maritime sector of Australia and the United States of America contributed to some sterling debates and sharing of views. It was an opportunity for regional officials to assess and analyse their systems and procedures against the standards of their neighbours.

The reports and presentations on pleasure craft revealed some fascinating statistics in terms of security concerns. Pleasure crafts have criss-crossed the waters of the region but the security threats have not been fully realised and assessed adequately in the past. This is now being addressed by relevant regional agencies such as the Oceania Customs Organisation (OCO) and SPC's Regional Maritime Programme (RMP) through studies and surveys of the movement of pleasure crafts in the region.

With the economic development strategies of PICTs and the employment potential of the cruise liner tourism industry in the region, it was suggested that governments in the region could explore the possibilities of increased visits by cruise liners. This would necessitate investment in port, tourism infrastructures and on-shore facilities for visitors.

The Conference would be an ideal forum to highlight and tackle emerging security concerns both in the maritime sector and the border management area. Although the Conference did not specifically endorse any long term resolutions, it would still be worth exploring future directions and mechanisms for a way forward to addressing security as inter-related with other law and order issues.

Putting funding issues aside, the Conference should be seen as an annual or bi-annual forum for security matters and should be expanded to cover legal, technical, and operational aspects of regional maritime security.

New maritime security documentary launched

What better way to show the world the Pacific’s concerted effort in meeting their maritime security obligations than capturing it on camera...

SPC's Regional Maritime Programme (RMP) is pleased to launch Pacific's Maritime Challenges on the War against Terror, a documentary on the challenges faced by the Pacific Island countries and territories (PICTs) in implementing and maintaining compliance with the mandatory provisions of the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code.

It may seem an impossible ask to capture almost four years of steadfast committment accurately in a 12-minute documentary but the producers, SPC’s Regional Media Centre (RMC), have done an exceptional job of showcasing the milestones achieved by PICTs since July 2004. A whooping thank you to Larry Thomas and his team...

The first cut of the documentary was viewed and appreciated by the 60 plus participants attending the Pacific Maritime Security Conference held in Nadi, Fiji, from 12th - 14th May 2008.

A much wider airing of the documentary is being planned for later in the year through the television programme, Pacific Way. Pacific communities with access to Pacific Way airing will have the opportunity to sit back and reflect on yet another successful 'battle'; in the history of the Pacific.

Copies of the DVDs are available from RMP only, at a cost of FJ$10.00 (not applicable to RMP's regional counterparts in PICTs).