The purpose of the workshop was to continue a constructive dialogue between the Solomon Islands Maritime Authority (SIMA) and ship owners and operators and key stakeholders to discuss matters affecting the maritime industry in Solomon Islands. The workshop focussed on maritime employment, safety management and pollution prevention from domestic shipping and included the signing of the Partnership Agreement for Governance, Oversight and Advisory Services of the Solomon Islands Maritime College (SIMC) to support this year’s theme “enhancing Safety through maritime awareness and education.”
Dates: Wednesday 4 – Thursday 5 October 2023.
Location: Mendana Hotel, Honiara.
The event was officially by the Deputy Chairperson of the board of SIMA, Mr. John Hugo Bugoro who welcomed the participants and guided them with a word of prayer. The Deputy Secretary Technical of the Ministry of Infrastructure Development, Mr. Allan Lilia, delivered the opening address and a keynote address was delivered by the Vice -Chancellor of Solomon Islands National University (SINU), Dr. Transform Aqorau, who stressed the need to envision a maritime future in technology and maritime education and training.
Mr. Thierry Nervale, Director SIMA introduced the session by presenting the purpose and objectives of the Partnership Agreement for Governance, Oversight and Advisory Services of the Solomon Islands Maritime College (SIMC) valuing the contribution from the partners to the Partnership Agreement namely the Ministry of Infrastructure and Development (MID), the Solomon Islands National University (SINU), the Solomon Island Ports Authority (SIPA), SIMA and the Solomon Islands Maritime Transport Association (SIMTA). A summary of the Partnership Agreement is contained in this brief.
At its first meeting, the Joint Oversight Committee under the Partnership Agreement adopted its terms of reference and elected Director SIMA as Chair of the Committee. The Committee deliberated on various topics related to the operationalisation of the Partnership Agreement and adopted short-term priorities to issue internationally recognised rating certificates and establish a Maritime Development Fund with SIMA with contribution from maritime fees and priority on maritime training.
Three presentations were delivered on the SIMA’s Seafarer Employment Agreement implementation plan, the status of seafarers’ qualifications and the current maritime industry needs, and the challenges faced in the maritime industry specifically in terms of seafarer’s employment and the operations of ships. The presentations were followed with an interactive session focussing on the qualifications of seafarers and the salaries for certain level of qualification that would require harmonisation among ship owners and operators.
During this session, SIMA Officers of the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) reminding obligations of SIMA and ship owners and operators to search and rescue persons in distress at sea and the need to develop a framework for cooperation. two other presentations were delivered on SIMA’s responsibilities in responding to marine and air pollution and the need to develop pollution prevention and energy management plan on board domestic ships.
The second day, a presentation was delivered on domestic ship safety management and SIMA implementation plan as well as the newly developed SIMA E-gate allowing access to integrated information related to ship registration, seafarer registration, ship certification and surveying and safe manning.
The final session was held focussing on shipping for mining and logging during which Director SIMA presented on various safety, manning and mismanagement issues that must be addressed through SIMTA’s membership and genuine collaboration and transparency.
The ship owners and operators:
The detailed report of the Third SIMA Workshop with Ship Operators can be found here. Any complementary information can be requested to Brenda Oeta, Principal Officer Vessel Inspection at brenda.oeta@sima.gov.sb. The presentation can be downloaded in the event programme below by clicking on the hyperlinks.
| Time | Agenda Item | Presenters | |||
| Wednesday 4 October 2023 | |||||
| 0830 – 0900 | Registration | SIMA | |||
| OPENING/PRESENTATION | |||||
| MC Rachel Bare Anita Manager – Environment, Protection & Safety | |||||
| 0900 – 0905 | Introduction and Prayer | SIMA Deputy Chair | |||
| 0905 – 0915 | Opening address | Mr. Allan Lilia
Deputy Secretary Technical, MID |
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| 0915 – 0930 | Keynote address
Maritime education and training |
Dr. Transform Aqorau
Vice-Chancellor SINU |
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| 0930 – 0945 | Presentation | Mr. Thierry Nervale
Director SIMA |
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| 0945 – 1000 | Signing Ceremony
Signing of the Partnership Agreement between MID, SINU, SIMA, SIPA and SIMTA |
Partners | |||
| 1000 – 1030 | Group Photo & Morning Tea | ||||
| PARALLEL SESSIONS – Maritime Employment, Education and Training | |||||
| 1030 – 1200 | Joint Oversight Committee | Maritime Employment
Facilitator George Tutu, Principal Officer, Vessel Inspection |
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| First Joint Oversight Committee (JOC) Meeting
Adoption of JOC Terms of Reference Election of a Chairperson SIMC Development Plan review Adoption of short-term high priorities |
1 | Update on SEA implementation plan | SIMA | ||
| 2 | Status of seafarer qualifications | SIMA | |||
| 3 | Maritime employment and vessel operations | SIMTA | |||
| 4 | Discussion | All | |||
| 1200 – 1330 | Lunch | ||||
| SESSION 2 – Environment Protection & Safety | |||||
| MC Rachel Bare Anita Manager – Environment, Protection & Safety | |||||
| 1330 – 1400 | 5 | Search and Rescue
Obligation of assistance and Mass Rescue Operations Discussion |
SIMA
All |
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| 1400 – 1430 | 6 | Marine Pollution
Prevention of pollution from ships by oil and wastes Discussion |
SIMA
All |
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| 1430 – 1500 | 7 | Air Pollution
Report on data collection on fuel oil consumption and operational efficiency Championing data collection Discussion |
SIMA
SIMTA All |
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| 1430 – 1500 | 8 | Feedback session & evaluation | All | ||
| 1500 – 1510 | 9 | Wrap up | Deputy Director, SIMA | ||
| 1510 – 1530 | Afternoon Tea | ||||
| Thursday 5 October 2023 | |||
| 0800 – 0830 | Registration | SIMA | |
| SESSION 3 – Ship Safety Management | |||
| MC Jonah Mitau – Shipping Operations and Safety | |||
| 0830 – 1000 | 7 | Ship Safety Management System (SMS)
Training and audit of SMS on board domestic ships Discussion |
SIMA All |
| 1000 – 1030 | Morning Tea | ||
| SESSION 4 – Maritime services for the logging and mining industries | |||
| MC Jonah Mitau – Shipping Operations and Safety | |||
| 1100 – 1215 | 8 | Supporting logging and mining industries
Issues and opportunities for shipping to develop in logging and mining industries Discussion |
SIMA All |
| 1215 – 1230 | 9 | Event wrap up & outcomes | Deputy Director, SIMA |
| 1230 – 1300 | Lunch | ||
SIMA – Solomon Islands Maritime Authority
PO Box 1932 – Solomon Islands
(677) 21535
contact@sima.gov.sb