Improving safety at sea

Recent technological developments and applications to support the management and monitoring of maritime activities within the Mediterranean region, especially for the improvement of safety at sea and the enforcement of maritime laws and regulations were presented and discussed in the half-day seminar, 'Applying new technologies for safety, surveillance and enforcement at sea - A challenge for Malta and the Mediterranean', recently organised by the IOI-Malta Operational Centre of the University of Malta.

The seminar was also held in conjunction with the first meeting of the MEDOCC Interreg IIIB project on weather-routing in the Mediterranean (WERMED), a project that will seek to optimise shipping routes through the forecasting of wind, sea state and currents, and which will enable the prediction of the most convenient, safe and least cost navigation.

A presentation on the project was given by Professor Antonio Speranza, of the Consorzio Interuniversitario per la Fisica dell'Atmosfera e delle Idrosfere. An interest to finance developments and prototypes from the project has been expressed by the Banca delle Marche and discussed by the bank's representative, Dr Augusto Bordoni.

Traffic density within the Mediterranean region is very high, with the area taking up 22 per cent of global maritime transport. The high volume of tanker traffic and container ships increases the chances of a maritime accident occurring in an area that is highly environmentally sensitive. It is also a fact that the majority of such traffic passes between Malta and Sicily, placing our shores at higher risk.

Malta's present and future maritime concerns within its territorial waters were also addressed. The number of ships calling at Maltese ports has increased by over 18 per cent over the past five years, reaching a total of 6,500 ships per year.

Malta has upgraded its maritime package as a hub, offering full services and facilities for cargo and passenger handling and other services, such as ship repair and bunkering. On the other hand, such developments pose a constant threat to our environment and coastal industry.

A picture of the current situation and users' needs in maritime security in Malta and the region was presented by Brian Cranmer of the Malta Maritime Authority. The MMA is due to set up a port VTS (Vessel Traffic Services) infrastructure that will allow operators and supervisors to provide ships with updated port information and traffic management by means of a radar and Automatic Identification System (AIS).

AIS provides vessel and voyage specific information and its use is mandated by IMO (International Maritime Organisation) for vessels over 300 GT (gross tonnage). Present and future uses and applications of AIS, regionally and internationally, were presented by Roger Bewig from the Office of Ocean Naval Research.

Present and future applications of technology to maritime search and rescue in Malta were discussed by Capt. Andrew Mallia from the Armed Forces of Malta.

Dr Aldo Drago, director of IOI-Malta, also explained the role of operational oceanography in environmental monitoring and how technological advances are bringing benefits to multipurpose sea observing systems integrated applications in maritime activities.

This is all in favour of improving ocean/coastal governance and management and the development of the marine economic sector. The IOI-Malta Operational Centre also acts as the focal point of MedGOOS, an informal association established under the auspices of the UNESCO/Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) that works on the planning and sustained implementation of an operational ocean monitoring system for all coastal states of the Mediterranean.

The use of technology for improved maritime services is key to meeting national and international legal obligations, including EU policy requirements. A presentation about the EU marine policy currently taking shape was given by Karin Refsnes, from the Maritime Task Force at the EU Directorate General of Fisheries.

The policy will seek to establish a collaborative, integrated approach to oceans and seas management, whereby improvement in competitiveness and the strengthening of European industry in a sustainable way and with due consideration for the environment is sought.

The seminar was opened by Competitiveness and Communications Minister Censu Galea and Professor Roberto Benzi, chief counsellor of the Italian Minister of Technological Innovation. Other speakers included Andrea Molocchi (RAM -  Rete Autostrade Mediterraneee), who spoke of RAM's mission in developing the Motorways of the Sea Programmes to create an integrated system of transport services; and Ing. Fabio Croccola (managing authority of PIC MEDOCC) who spoke on EU interregional programmes and EU policy on maritime transportation.

Various stakeholders from the marine management community, marine industries and the services sector attended the seminar.