Brigadier General Zakariyya Mansoor has said that safety and security at sea are not ensured in spite of existing laws, and that it can be only guaranteed if everybody works together.

Speaking at a ceremony held at Nasandhura Palace Hotel to inaugurate a discussion forum on safety at sea, Zakariyya said that more than 24 different regulations are currently in force with regard to safety at sea and that a very good legislation also currently exists to this end.

“There are more than 24 regulations with regard to safety and security at sea. After a lot of hard work from a number of people, the Parliament has passed a law regarding safety and security at sea. It is a very good piece of legislation, but a few people abide by these laws and regulations,” Zakariyya said.

He said that the accidents at sea can only be reduced if everyone abides by the laws and regulations and that it has to be guaranteed that these laws and regulations are duly enforced.

He noted that the Maldives pays less attention to safety at sea compared to other countries in the region and that this has resulted in regrettable consequences.

He said that some large boats venture out to several miles at sea without proper means of communication and that it is often the case that the captains of these vessels do not have the proper licences to drive these boats. He said that such actions have to stop in order to reduce disasters at sea.

He also said that it is important to travel after carefully considering the weather and that he pledged all parties to adhere to the necessary safety measures that are to be taken while at sea.

Private companies, government office employees, police and military personnel are taking part in the discussion forum which began today.