The 2022 World Maritime Day theme, “New Technologies for Greener Shipping,” reflects the need to support a green transition of the maritime sector into a sustainable future, while leaving no one behind.
The theme provides an opportunity to focus on the importance of a sustainable maritime sector and the need to build back better and greener in a post pandemic world.
In her World Maritime Day video message, Dr. Cleopatra Doumbia-Henry, President of the World Maritime University (WMU), remarked that the maritime industry is standing at the start of one of its greatest technological challenges as it prepares to transition to a zero and low-emission industry through the adoption of technological innovations.
“Resilience and cooperation remain necessary as we are addressing global problems, such as climate change, in the international arena of the maritime industry,” she said.
Dr. Doumbia-Henry spoke of the importance of Green Technologies that are essential for providing the technical means and for enabling maritime transport without greenhouse gas emissions.
Further, she maintained that international cooperation for the mitigation of GHGs is a crucial element for decarbonizing the industry globally, noting that ports also have an essential role to play.
“The green technologies we see emerging today are truly exciting, with the emergence of modern energy saving devices, the harnessing of renewable energy, as well as zero-carbon fuels,” said President Doumbia-Henry.
WMU is advancing research and education to ensure that capacities are built worldwide for sustainable energy technologies in the maritime sector and to help maritime stakeholders reduce the emission of GHGs and air pollutants, contributing directly to UN SDG 13 – climate action and to UN SDG7 – affordable and clean energy.
Among the work done by WMU in this regard, Dr Doumbia-Henry highlighted the Maritime Energy Management (MEM) specialization that was launched in 2016 and directly addresses GHG emissions.
In 2018, a new postgraduate diploma programme in Maritime Energy was launched by distance learning, to reach an even wider audience.
In closing, President Doumbia-Henry emphasized the need for common strategies as well as common funding mechanisms for a successful development and deployment of zero and low-emission maritime technologies.
“Global capacity building, research and education, will be essential in meeting our common goal of decarbonizing the maritime industry,” she said
About World Maritime Day
World Maritime Day was first held in 1978 to mark the 20th anniversary of the IMO Convention’s entry into force. Celebrations are held throughout the world annually to focus attention on the importance of shipping safety, maritime security and the marine environment, and to emphasize a particular aspect of IMO’s work
. World Maritime Day celebrations are usually held during the last week in September. Since 2005, in addition to the official IMO celebrations held at IMO Headquarters in London, there has been a Parallel Event hosted by a member State.
