Fiji maritime industry calls for energy efficient operations to reduce greenhouse gasses

Suva

Paul Bayly, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport delivering the keynote address at the opening of the workshop

Fiji Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji (MSAF) and ship operators convened this week for the First National Workshop on Energy Efficient Operations of Ships delivered by the Maritime Technology Cooperation Centre in the Pacific (MTCC-Pacific). The workshop participants agreed to address issues affecting domestic shipping in Fiji, taking into consideration the need to contribute to national efforts in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and with the view to operate ships more efficiently and implement energy efficient measures.

The three and a half day Fiji National Workshop provided the participants with an understanding of the latest developments at the international level; new technologies, tools and methods available to monitor and reduce fuel oil consumption from the operations of ships in Fiji, in order to contribute to national efforts to reduce greenhouse emissions.

During his remarks, Fiji’s Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, Paul Bayly, highlighted the importance of maritime energy efficiency saying, “The Fiji Government is proud to be the host of MTCC-Pacific and is committed to raise awareness and build our capacity to implement energy efficient measures in the Fiji maritime industry.”

In his opening address, SPC’s Director of Geoscience, Energy and Maritime Division, Dr Andrew Jones reiterated the need for maritime energy efficiency stating that, “Reducing fuel oil consumption and adopting new maritime technologies will make an important contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions in Fiji, and meeting its Nationally Determined Contributions. The maritime sector has a critical role to play in national efforts and MTCC-Pacific has been established to build the capacity of Pacific Islands countries and lead by example in this goal”.

An estimated 2,131 vessels are operated in Fiji waters each day. That includes 1,890 vessels of 15 meters and less and 241 vessels of more than 15 meters including 25 vessels of 50 meters and above. All of them use fossil fuels for their operations.

MTCC-Pacific is one of five centres of excellence in the world and forms part of the Global MTCC Network (GMN), which aims to build the capacity of developing countries for climate mitigation in the maritime shipping industry. The Global MTCC Network is implemented by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and funded by the European Union. MTCC-Pacific provides capacity-building activities and will implement its pilot-projects on data collection and energy efficiency in the Fiji, as the MTCC-Pacific Host Country.

The GMN Project Manager, Tamar Barabadze said that, “the establishment of MTCC-Pacific will assist the region by providing expert support to industry and Governments, acting as a bridge between key stakeholders and helping to drive forward international standards on energy efficiency for the shipping sector. MTCC-Pacific is now playing a key role in the region and as part of the wider Global MTCC network”.

Similar national workshops will be organised in other Pacific Islands Countries in 2018 to raise awareness and provide similar tools to reduce fuel oil consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.

Media Contact:
Lore Croker, MTCC-Pacific Administration and Information Assistant [email protected]

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