More than 70 delegates from countries and territories in the Asia-Pacific region and international organisations are attending the 13th Asia Pacific Heads of Maritime Safety Agencies Forum (APHoMSA 13) that opened in the central coastal city of Nha Trang on July 10.
Addressing the opening of the three-day forum, the first of its kind hosted in Vietnam by the Vietnam Maritime Department, Deputy Minister of Transport Nguyen Van Cong highlighted the cooperation of APEC member economies in implementing commitments of the forum over the recent past.
Vietnam and regional countries should closely cooperate to settle maritime safety issues, oceanic environmental protection, and cooperation in search and rescue, he said.
Vietnam pledges to actively and comprehensively take part in the APHoMSA, said the deputy minister.
The 13th APHoMSA will discuss the implementation of the Maritime Labour Convention, the state management of seaports, information systems, and maritime assistance facilities.
The participants are expected to seek initiatives to increase the development of the maritime sector on par with international standards on maritime safety, security and oceanic environmental protection.
The forum will also touch upon technical cooperation programmes of the International Maritime Organisation and the technical cooperation strategy of APHoMSA in the future.
APEC member economies currently make up around 40 percent of the world’s vessel fleet and half of the world’s total crew.
VNA/VNP