BANGLADESH

World Maritime Day today

The World Maritime Day 2022 will be observed in the country today as elsewhere in the world with the theme ‘New Technologies for Greener Shipping’.

President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages wishing a grand success of the day.

In their messages, the President and the Prime Minister have extended their sincere felicitation to the shipping community, concerned authorities and organizations for celebrating this day this year with the theme which is very time befitting as it addresses global climate changing issues and reflects on the need to support a green transition of shipping into a sustainable future.

President Hamid in his message said the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) put emphasis on sustainable use of the oceans, seas and marine resources. SDG 17 highlights the importance of partnerships and implementation to achieve these goals so that no single issue is left behind, he added.

Maritime transport has long been regarded as an environmentally friendly mode of transportation and in addition to their large capacity, marine vessels fuel-efficient engines emit less greenhouse gases, he said, adding that to contend with global warming, rise of sea level and adverse impact of climate change, greener technology is a must.

He said International Maritime Organization (IMO) has taken initiative for decarbonization of maritime transport and promotes innovation and green technologies but to achieve these objectives, partnership is the prime concern as it allows all parties involved to share and disseminate information on best practices and access to resources.

The President said the maritime sector plays an important role in Bangladesh’s economy carrying 95 percent of total trade volume. In last few years, Bangladesh maritime sector has scaled a new height and contributed in boosting trade and commercial activities, he added.

The government has focused on port-led development which includes expanding port capacities and making the existing systems more efficient, he said, adding that waterways are being harnessed to ensure Bangladeshi products get better access to the world market.

“I hope concerned government authorities and stakeholders will take proper and effective action to facilitate technologically efficient and sustainable use of our maritime resources,” he added.

In her message, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said the theme of this year has been rightly chosen as ‘New Technologies for Greener Shipping,’ emphasizing the need to promote a green transition of the maritime industry into a sustainable future without leaving any issues behind. This issue offers a chance to concentrate on the significance of a sustainable maritime industry and the requirement to build better and more environmentally friendly shipping in a post-pandemic world, she added.

She said Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was the founder and architect of maritime development in Bangladesh. Greener shipping will help to fight against global warming as a green ship would leave the least amount of carbon emissions, she said.

In order to promote green shipping, environmental issues must be considered, from the ship’s design to decommissioning, she said, adding that new technologies such as switching to low Sulfur fuel, use of LNG as a marine fuel, implementation of exhaust scrubber system, waste heat recovery system, use of wind energy with the sail and kite propulsion system, and exhaust gas re-circulation system should be taken into account.

The premier said the government supports IMO activities for a more environmentally friendly transition of the shipping industry towards a sustainable future, as well as for marine innovation, research and development and induction of new technologies.

Bangladesh is one of the most vulnerable nations to the impacts of global climate change in the coming decades, she said, adding that due to the adverse effects of climate change, summers are becoming hotter, irregular monsoon, untimely rainfall, heavy rainfall over a short period causing water logging and landslides, very little rainfall in the dry season, increased river flow and inundation during monsoon, recurrence of floods, crop damage due to flash floods and monsoon floods, crop failure due to drought, etc.

“Unless action is taken to limit carbon emissions in the atmosphere, South Asia will suffer more droughts and floods, rising sea levels, and declines in food production,” she said.

To address the challenges of climate change, she said the government has established Bangladesh Climate Change Trust Fund (BCCTF), Bangladesh Climate Change Resilience Fund (BCCRF), and a Global Center on Adaptation in Dhaka.

She hoped that the ‘World Maritime Day 2022’ theme will enable various initiatives that focus on particular issues relating to the promotion of inclusive innovation and the adoption of new technologies to support the demands for a greener transition in the maritime sector.

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