INTERFERRY, IMO EXTEND CAMPAIGN TO CUT 3RD WORLD FERRY DEATHS

[proud_ionian]

source: MGN

FERRY industry body Interferry and the IMO have extended the Memorandum of Understanding on their joint campaign to reduce ferry fatalities by 90% in developing nations. The original two-year MOU has been renewed indefinitely following major progress towards running demonstration projects in Bangladesh as a pilot for taking the safety initiative worldwide.

The new agreement was signed in London by IMO secretary-general Efthimios Mitropoulos and Interferry CEO Len Roueche. The trade association has IMO consultative status and a global membership of more than 200 leading operators and suppliers.

Mr Roueche said: “This commitment to our ongoing cooperation will be crucial in helping to prevent thousands of avoidable deaths. Domestic ferry operations are outside the IMO’s official mandate and Interferry has no members in the world’s poorest nations, but we each recognise a humanitarian duty to share the developed world’s wealth of experience.”

Initial funds have been raised for key elements of the Bangladesh pilot programme, which is based on proposals from a working group including the national maritime administration, local operators and other stakeholders.

Work is now well advanced on two of the main recommendations. A crew training DVD is being finalised for trial in early autumn and weather forecasting requirements are due to be assessed this summer by a team from the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Meanwhile the Bangladeshi department of shipping has adopted improved procedures for vessel records and weather alerts; overseas funding has been sourced to computerise the ferry database and to promote safety regulations; and the IMO has signalled several new initiatives. These cover technical guidelines for vessel design, construction and operation as well as vessel refurbishment, accident investigation, dredging and terminal controls.