Chairman, Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji,
Heads of Maritime Agencies;
Industry Stakeholders,
Captains, Engineers, Seafarers, Mariners, deckhands, sailors and seamen
Members of the Media,
Invited Guest,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Bula Vinaka and a very warm welcome to you all.
It gives me great pleasure to join you on this special day and auspicious occasion of 2021 World Maritime Day. Although it is a virtual event, it nonetheless, is a joyous occasion.
This year’s World Maritime Day is especially important, considering the role the sector plays during this pandemic.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
As we all know, the World Maritime Day is founded by the United Nations (UN) in collaboration with the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), to celebrate the contribution of the maritime industry.
The IMO chose to make 2021 a year of action for seafarers. Seafarers who are facing unprecedented hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic, despite their vital role as key workers for global supply chains.
The theme for this year’s World Maritime Day is centered on Seafarers: At the Core of Shipping Future. Today, requires all of us to reflect and raise awareness on the importance of seafarersʹ and their role in world trade.
In addition, the day is celebrated to commemorate the remarkable commitment made by our captains, deckhands, engineers, mariners, sailors and seamen from everywhere around the world in the maritime transport sector.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It has been this sector that has kept trade flowing. The seaports remained open during the pandemic, which meant that we had medicine, food and essential goods available.
Hence, the spirit, momentum and the importance of this day is still very high and celebrated by everyone in this important industry. I want to pay special tribute to our unsung heroes — our seafarers. They have made personal sacrifices throughout the pandemic. Many were stuck on vessels for many months, whilst others could not return to their ships.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I also want to acknowledge the IMO and its recognition of the work of seafarers through the International Maritime Conventions, particularly the Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watch keeping for Seafarers (STCW) and the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC). These two out of the four main pillars of the IMO Conventions, are attributed directly to seafarers.
The STCW, establishes the requirements for training, certification and watch keeping for seafarers on an international level. Previously the standards of and ratings were established by individual governments, usually without reference to practices in other countries. As a result, standards and procedures varied widely, even though shipping is the most international of all industries.
This Convention now prescribes minimum standards relating to training, certification and watch keeping for seafarers which countries are obliged to meet or exceed.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The MLC is also a very important Convention, which is also known as the Seafarer’s Bill of Rights. It sets out seafarers’ rights to decent conditions of work and helps to create conditions of fair competition for ship owners.
Ladies and Gentlemen, the MLC is intended to be globally applicable, easily understandable, readily updatable and uniformly enforced.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Fiji has more than 5,000 registered seafarers who are working in our Maritime and Shipping industry. These do not include ordinary seamen. We acknowledge your contributions in ensuring that cargoes are transported to our brothers and sisters in the Maritime Islands particularly during the pandemic.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
For the past 5 years, more than 600,000 tonnes of cargo have been transported to and from our Maritime islands for the economical and uneconomical routes and this is only made possible with the passion and commitment of all our seafarers.
In addition, our Government Shipping Services continued providing support to the medical sector during the second wave of the pandemic. Our seafarers onboard the MLC Veivueti on two separate occasions provided much needed support to FEMAT and the Ministry of Health and Medical Services during the outbreak in Lautoka and Kadavu. Seafarers left their homes for weeks on end to assist our frontliners. Similarly, our seafarers on board the MV Cagivou assisted our frontliners in Yasawa and will continue to do so until cases in these maritime islands are managed.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I wish to highlight some of the realities of the pandemic on our domestic shipping industry:
- Most of our seafarers were affected by the virus and the reality of the situation is when seafarers in a vessel tested positive, it was expected that the vessel would be put in isolation due to the enclosed space and type of work that was undertaken;
- Our Ports and Jetties were imposed with strict protocols and at a point had to close and restrict movement;
- Vessel operators had to stop sail ships until isolation periods were completed;
- Some vessels had to be isolation or quarantine facilities;
- No passengers can be moved to and from our maritime islands;
- Maritime Protocols were devised and are in place to ensure there was and is no interaction between our maritime islanders and our seafarers;
- Our seafarers have to wear full PPEs to off load and load cargo. Cargoes have to be placed in designated locations at destination ports more than 50 meters away so as to avoid any interactions;
Ladies and Gentlemen
Despite all that has happened and all that we have gone through this pandemic, our seafarers still show how resilient, committed and passionate they are in the face of difficulties and adversities.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Today’s focus on the wellbeing of all seafarers is important. Some experiences caused much stress for many seafarers as you will watch shortly from the testimonials which highlights the;
a) inability to board a ship and earn a decent living;
b) stranded beyond their original contract;
c) crew change crisis;
d) unable to be repatriated and lastly;
e) the difficulties of transiting to greener pastures; moving from digitalisation to automation.
My Ministry will not shy away from supporting our brave seafarers, who have tirelessly worked behind the scenes. They have ensured Fijians in the maritime islands continue to receive supplies and medications.
Seafarers are definitely at the heart of shipping. I want to thank you all for serving in Fiji and abroad, especially your dedication and professionalism, you deserve our accolades.
I wish everyone a great World Maritime Day.
Vinaka