14 key regulations to boost maritime sector near completion

14 regulations crucial to enhancing the Maldives’ maritime sector are near completion, according to the Transport Ministry.

The Transport Ministry made the comment in a statement on occasion of World Maritime Day being celebrated Thursday.

Transport Ministry said the government has compiled a Strategic Action Plan and are working with the International Maritime Organization to boost the local maritime sector.

Work is underway to draft maritime laws and regulations, said the ministry.

“14 regulations crucial to enhancing the maritime sector are near completion,” said the ministry.

According to the ministry, the regulations include a regulation on protection of the rights of maritime workers, and regulations required under the Maritime Convention.

“There’s no doubt this will further enhance the advancement of the people trained to develop with sector,” said the ministry.

The theme for this year’s World Maritime Day is ‘New Technologies for Greener Shipping’, reflecting the need to support a green transition of the maritime sector into a sustainable future.

Transport Ministry said the theme resonated deeply in Maldives, where even a small change to the climate could have drastic consequences.

Transport Ministry said multiple projects are in progress in Maldives, with the initiative taken by President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih to bring sustainable development and progress to the maritime sector.

The ministry said 30 officers will be trained in the next 30 years through the program launched to train captains and engineers.

The ministry also noted the establishment of the national shipping line, Maldives State Shipping.

“In 2020, a shipping line was launched by the name of Maldives State Shipping. The work of this shipping line is being enhanced. This shipping line has facilitated the import and export of cargo, and has created more employment opportunities for people in this sector,” said the ministry.

The ministry highlighted on the need to school students need to provide information on the maritime sector to school students in order to achieve sustainable development in the sector.

The Maritime Safety Week this year therefore mainly focused on schools, said the ministry.

The Maritime Safety Week was held from September 22-29. School students were provided information on maritime safety and security, and the various employment opportunities in the sector.