Experts at the meeting seek to evaluate three reports on maritime situational assessment prepared by the Nairobi Convention secretariat and other partners.
A background note says the Nairobi Convention, first signed in 1985 and entering into force in 1996, is part of United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), it’s a regional programme, aiming to address accelerating degradation of the world's oceans and coastal areas with sustainable management of the marine and coastal environment.
The contracting parties to the convention are Comoros, France, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, Somalia, Tanzania and South Africa, with the secretariat working closely with collaborating partners such as regional NGOs plus a scatter of research institutions
Dr Jared Bosire, manager for the Nairobi Convention desk for UNEP said that the programme does not make ports as directly mandated partners of the convention but UNEP interest comes in since port developments intersect with the environment.
The secretariat reached out to the Maritime Technology Cooperation Centre for Africa (MTCCA) to manage stakeholders’ coordination and engagement for this initiative, he said, noting that the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) which has strong branches in India and South Africa, the Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association (WIOMSA) based in Zanzibar, and Macquarie University in the Australian city of Sydney, he said.
This evaluation is relevant due to acceleration of infrastructure developments along the western rim of the Indian Ocean from ports to railways, thus the two-day event will come up with validated inputs for green port development, he stated.
WIOMSA executive secretary Dr Arthur Tuda said having sustainable ports along the East African coastline and islands is crucial, and last August's meeting has developed working tools for sustainable development in the maritime industry such as the development of green ports.
The idea of smart green ports is a key agenda of the African green economy, where the African Oceanic Strategy 2063 sees ports are supposed to be designed to operate in ways that guarantee environmental protection, he stated.
Workshop participants will discuss smart-green and environmentally friendly mechanisms for tankers and operations of other marine vessels to not affect the ecological stability of the ocean and littoral islands.
The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) says that nearly 80 percent of international trade is conducted through oceans, and the level is even higher for most developing countries.
Abdi Mkeyenge, director general of the Tanzania Shipping Agencies Corporation (TASAC) said sustainable ports and other maritime activities are likely to foster socioeconomic and environmental impacts.
The realization of sustainable development through maritime transport and the promotion of international trade is a vital goal for the government, he stated.
He pointed at the shipping of fossil fuels as contributing to greenhouse gases, but more concerning for the ecology is leakage of fuels in case of accidents.
So far no such cases have been reported on this part of the Indian Ocean, experts noted.
