Skilled manpower, modern tech to turn smart naval system

Jasmine Aktar

Commodore AZM Jalal Uddin, Director-General of the Department of Shipping has underscored the need for creating skilled manpower in field of protecting maritime safety for ensuring the naval safety as well as achieving the targets of the Delta plan of the ruling government led by the legendary Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

“Maritime safety and security is a must for maintaining steady growth of Bangladesh, but, we are still lagged behind ensuring modern system to ensure complete security in the waterway, imposing threat for maritime safety”, said Commodore AZM Jalal Uddin to the Daily Tribunal to mark ‘Maritime Safety Week-2022’.

Maritime Safety is concerned with the prevention of accidental damage or incidents of marine environmental pollution or loss of life at sea through the development of technical support systems, he explained.

Time befitting approaches in line with universal maritime law also improve the maritime security, he mentioned. “We need organized and coordinated policy and effort to tackle multifarious threat and challenges related with maritime crimes-terrorism, drug trafficking, acts of piracy, illegal transport of migrants and so on”, he added.

Already the Maritime Safety Week-2022 started Thursday last with a view to creating awareness about safe shipping. The theme of this year’s Maritime Safety Week is ‘Proshikkhito Jonobol O Nirapod Jolojan, Nou Nirapottay Rakhbey Obodan’ (trained manpower and safe vessels will contribute to naval safety).

The introduction of smart naval system along with adequate skilled manpower and modern technology can play a positive role in the overall safety of all passengers and vessels in the waterways.

Joint effort of the concerned authorities are needed for ensuring will be more active to ensure safe naval system in the country, he added.

Meanwhile, the Maritime Safety Week-2022 is being observed in the country from Thursday with a view to creating awareness about safe shipping. The theme of this year’s Maritime Safety Week is ‘Proshikkhito Jonobol O Nirapod Jolojan, Nou Nirapottay Rakhbey Obodan’ (trained manpower and safe vessels will contribute to naval safety).

Department of Shipping, the regulatory agency under the Ministry of Shipping of Bangladesh responsible for maritime safety, formulation and enforcement of maritime regulation has undertaken various programs to mark Maritime Safety Week-2022.

The department is playing its sincere effort for ensuring the safety of inland navigation and issuing registration and annual fitness certificates of the vessels.

About 225 million passengers and 25 million vehicles are transported by ferries, coastal and cargo services through inland waterways every year. Sixty percent of the country’s total import and export is made through Chattogram and Mongla ports.

Actually, the marine area of the country is not only important for its significant economic role but also for its unparalleled natural panorama and aesthetic appeal. One-fourth of the total population of Bangladesh live along the coast line and many of them are directly dependent on the sea for their livelihood, he mentioned.

“If we ensure a smart naval system, it is possible to boost the economy through ensuring higher contributions from the blue economy”, he also added.