The World Maritime Day Parallel Event (WMDPE) has opened in Durban, South Africa (12 to 14 October 2022). In his opening speech, IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim said: "After a two-year pause in parallel events due to the pandemic, it is an enormous pleasure to be able to welcome you all here to Durban for the 2022 World Maritime Day Parallel Event.”
“The Parallel Event was instituted to provide an opportunity to take the World Maritime theme "on the road" and it is undoubtedly one of the most important maritime events, worldwide."
Secretary-General Lim highlighted the need for 'innovation' and 'inclusivity' as shipping voyages to a decarbonised future, in which digitalization and automation will play a key role.
Successful energy transition
"Innovation is fundamental to the maritime industry's successful energy transition. It requires new technologies, renewable alternative fuels and infrastructure to support low- and zero-carbon shipping, along with new financial solutions to support all those practical aspects," Mr. Lim said.
He added, "we also need innovative teams working together, created through research and development partnerships. These should involve both public and private sector because we need all hands-on-deck to ensure these initiatives succeed.”
Digitalisation and automation
Digitalization and automation technologies will help us on the voyage towards greener shipping
“This needs to be done in the most inclusive way possible as we address capacity-building, technology and infrastructure to bring on board developing countries, in particular least developed countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in the energy transition. No one should be left behind.”
“Digitalization and automation can be counted amongst the technologies that will help us on the voyage towards cleaner, greener and more efficient shipping but this does not mean that we ignore the human element," Mr. Lim further added.
Greener shipping
Welcoming high-level delegates from across the globe, the Honourable Fikile Mbalula, Transport Minister, South Africa, said: "The theme for this year's World Maritime Day Parallel Event, "New technologies for greener shipping", calls for the global family of nations to take action on decarbonisation of shipping and ports through the use of zero or low carbon technologies, fuels and infrastructure.”
“The ultimate goal is to contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emission across the globe for sustainable development. The big question we must answer is: "How do we get to the future that is sustainable, which facilitates global seaborne trade from all corners of the globe?"
He highlighted his "appreciation and applaud stakeholders, including the oil and bunker industry, manufacturers, academia, and shipping industry in general, for all your efforts and initiatives aimed at using research and innovation for the development of greener technologies as the pathway to the decarbonisation of this important industry."
Transition to cleaner fuels
Abundance of renewable energy potential can accelerate the development of greener technologies
Noting the potential for countries to be part of the transition to cleaner fuels, Mbalula said, "We believe that the abundance of renewable energy potential can accelerate the development of greener technologies and alternative fuels in order to meet the demand of supplying bunker to ships at our ports."
Panel sessions
Panel session will cover: World perspective on greener shipping – decarbonisation; Collaboration and capacity building; Digitalisation for safer and efficient shipping; and Oceans and the blue economy.
Ministerial round table
IMO Secretary-General Lim is hosting a ministerial round table on the sidelines of the event.
Closing ceremony
During the closing ceremony on Friday, 14 October 2022, the World Maritime Day flag will be handed over to the World Maritime Day Parallel Event host for 2023, the Islamic Republic of Iran.
