RMU Delegation in Tanzania for 3rd Blue Economy Conference
A delegation from the Regional Maritime University (RMU) has arrived in Tanzania for the third edition of the Blue Economy Conference (BEC2024), set for July 4-5 at the Julius Nyerere International Convention Centre.
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The conference, organized by the Dar es Salaam Maritime Institute (DMI) in collaboration with the RMU in Accra, will be held under the theme, “Navigating the Future: Integrating Maritime Safety and Security, Climate Change Actions, and Technological Advancements for Blue Economy.”
Team RMU, led by Acting Vice Chancellor Dr. Jethro W. Brooks, includes University Registrar Dr. Baboucarr Njie, Acting Dean of the Faculty of Maritime Studies Prof. Nana Ofosu Boateng, Dean of the School of Graduate Studies Dr. Gabriel Akakpo, Head of the Electrical and Electronic Department Dr. Isaac Owusu Nyarko, and University Librarian Dr. Amy Asimah. They are scheduled to arrive in Tanzania today, Tuesday, July 2, after departing Accra early in the morning.
Meanwhile, Head of Research and Innovation Dr. Robert Nyemah and Ms. Sika Attipoe arrived in Tanzania last week to participate in preparations ahead of the conference.
The conference aims to bring together international stakeholders, focusing on promoting the blue economy to drive development across the continent.
The keynote speaker for the event will be Tanzania’s Deputy Minister for Transport, Mr. David Mwakiposa Kihenzile. Other speakers include Dr. Paul Ikongshul Adalikwu, Secretary General of the Maritime Organisation of West and Central Africa (MOWCA); Dr. Kofi Mbia, Maritime Law and Management Consultant; Amb. Nancy Karigithu, Special Advisor for Maritime and Blue Economy; Paul Sobba Massaquoi, Executive Director of the Sierra Leone Maritime Authority; and Mr. Pa Ousman Jarju, Climate Specialist.
The DMI has hosted the Blue Economy Conference for the past two years. This year, it has joined forces with the RMU to hold the third edition, following a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two maritime education and training giants in February.
The MoU covers areas of research and publication, staff capacity building, and the organization of conferences, seminars, and workshops, among other activities. This collaboration has led to the co-hosting of this year’s conference.
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Dr. Jethro W. Brooks Jr., Acting Vice Chancellor of the RMU, stated that both institutions are committed to transforming African economies by providing quality training and education to equip and position young people to drive the maritime sector.
“We look forward to an insightful conference that will support the transformation of the African continent through the maritime industry,” he said.
The blue economy annually generates an estimated turnover of between US$3 and US$6 trillion. This includes employment, ecosystem services provided by the ocean, and cultural services. Fisheries and aquaculture alone contribute US$100 billion per year and about 260 million jobs to the global economy, according to a report by the United Nations (UN) Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA).
Given the significant potential of the blue economy, Africa is looking to develop the maritime sector to harness its benefits for socio-economic growth through this conference.
The conference also aims to establish a platform for capacity building and networking among stakeholders, fostering the blue economy in alignment with maritime safety and security, climate change considerations, and technological advancements as outlined in the relevant Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Other topics to be addressed include the sustainable exploitation and utilization of blue economy resources, ship seaworthiness and onboard competency challenges, business models for the blue economy, women in the maritime sector, the fishing industry, climate action policy, and environmental protection.
Discussions will also cover Artificial Intelligence (AI) in maritime practices, renewable energy solutions for maritime transportation, information systems in maritime education and training, logistics, shipping and supply chains for the blue economy, climate-responsive maritime practices and coastal management, blue economy governance, law and policy, and coastal and marine tourism development.