SUPPORTING Pacific nations implement global maritime regulations is a key objective of a new office opened in Fiji by the International Maritime Organization.
IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez and Fijian transport minister Ro Filipe Tuisawau officially opened the Regional Presence Office in Suva.
The Regional Presence Office is hosted by the Government of Fiji and initially based at the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) buildings.
IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez spoke of the central role of shipping and the wider blue economy in the region, especially for Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
“This Regional Presence Office will serve as a centre of coordination, knowledge and technical expertise, directly supporting countries and ensuring that the Pacific is part of the shipping evolution,” Mr Dominguez said.
“Pacific SIDS and Least Developed Countries (LDCs), have always been a priority for IMO.”
According to the IMO, Pacific nations are already active partners in various IMO projects and programs, including ocean protection, reduction of harmful emissions, empowerment of women in maritime, strengthening of regulatory compliance and addressing seafarer welfare.
The Regional Presence Office is expected to contribute by adopting a centralised delivery model for technical assistance that emphasising efficiency, results and smarter use of resources, in line with broader UN reform efforts.
Fiji transport minister Ro Filipe Tuisawau said the establishment of this office, the first of its kind in the region “demonstrates the level of regional engagement and cooperation in strengthening maritime governance, safety and sustainability”.
“The maritime sector in our region faces challenges that require consistent and specialised support, from safety compliance and pollution prevention to legislative reform and decarbonisation,” Mr Tuisawau said.
“This office provides a regional mechanism to help address these challenges."
Mr Dominguez encouraged Pacific countries to engage with the IMO to ensure the implementation of the IMO Net-Zero Framework to confront climate change by cutting GHG emissions from ships.
These regulations include a mandatory fuel standard and a global GHG pricing system for ship emissions.
There are 14 IMO Member States in the Pacific Islands region, including 12 SIDS, three of which are classified as LDCs, as well as Australia and New Zealand.
Arsenio Dominguez was in Sydney this week for meetings with maritime stakeholders from government and industry.