Ferry
Safety in the Developing World:
The IMO/Interferry
Bangladesh Project
Interferry
has launched a joint initiative with the International Maritime Organization
to improve the shocking safety record of domestic ferry operations in developing
nations. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed in January 2006 on a ten-year
action plan aiming at a 90% cut in fatalities – conservatively estimated at
1,000 a year. In the first phase, a pilot project is being arranged in Bangladesh
.
Why
should Interferry and its members from the world's developed economies be interested
in ferry safety in places like the Congo , Indonesia and Bangladesh ? The first
answer would be based on simple humanitarian principles – we want to offer our
wealth of experience to help stem this unacceptable and avoidable loss of life.
.
The
second answer is less direct. Every time a ferry accident is reported in the
developed world's media, it has a cumulative impact on the public perception
of ferry safety. With the spread of global tourism, it is becoming less uncommon
to find citizens of developed countries among the casualties in far-off ferry
accidents. If the public image of ferries declines, then it will eventually
affect the bottom line of operators everywhere as their customers have second
thoughts about their safety at sea.
Ferry
safety in developing countries is a big and diverse problem. Interferry represents
more than 180 members in 25 countries but it is not a big organisation and its
resources are limited. We decided to look for a partner and soon found one in
the IMO, where we have consultative status. As publicly demonstrated by past
and present Secretary Generals, the IMO shares our desire to tackle the problem
– even though it falls outside their remit to regulate international rather
than domestic shipping.
We
decided to start with a single country that had a serious safety problem. Further,
it was decided to work from the bottom up with the local industry to design
a series of small demonstration projects to test potential solutions. Successful
projects would be duplicated throughout the country and eventually rolled out
to similar countries.
Bangladesh
was chosen as the test-bed in liaison with the government. Following a planning
trip in July 2006, a Working Group of government, industry, regulators, and
other interested parties will meet later in the year to identify problems and
possible remedies in areas such as overcrowding, weather reporting, crew training
and vessel design and maintenance. Based on this meeting, a number of modest
demonstration projects will be implemented and evaluated, hopefully leading
to long-term solutions.
Of
course, these kinds of projects do not happen without funding. So far all the
planning work has been done by IMO and Interferry staff, with help from a few
volunteer members. We have agreed to share certain costs, like the $5,000 from
Interferry to help fund the initial planning visit to Bangladesh . But that
is only the beginning – the longer term will require far more substantial backing.
The IMO will seek financial support from governments
and multilateral funding organisations, while Interferry will reach out to its
own members, international private sector organisations and private sector ferry
operators in the target countries.
Right
now the priority challenge is to enlist further support for our pilot mission
in Bangladesh . On the one hand we are looking for expertise, so please contact
the people listed below if you are interested in being part of the Working Group,
especially if you have experience in developing countries. We are also looking
for donations – as little as $1,000 could fund local transport expenses; while
$3,000, for instance, would help towards overseas travel and subsistence. Whatever
you can contribute by way of manpower or money will help to make our mark on
a state of affairs that ultimately reflects on us all.
For
more information please contact:
Len Roueche, Interferry CEO
Tel: 1 250 592-9612
email: len.roueche@interferry.com
Roberta Weisbrod, Director
Partnership for Sustainable Ports
Tel: 1 718 722-2824
email: weisbrod@ix.netcom.com
Click on the following documents for more background information:
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