The recent rescue of a South Korean freighter off the US coast highlights the ongoing challenges of maritime safety worldwide. Closer to the Indian Ocean region, the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) prioritizes “Maritime Safety and Security,” but its focus has largely skewed toward security rather than safety. Historically, meetings centered on security issues, with the 2017 Blueprint for Maritime Safety and Security minimally addressing safety concerns, primarily suggesting a memorandum for search and rescue operations.
For improved maritime safety, collaboration should be primarily led by coast guards and civil agencies rather than naval forces. Both maritime security and safety are vital for fostering a sustainable “blue economy.” While it is essential to protect economic activities from threats like piracy, ensuring operational safety is equally important. Key industries such as shipping, tourism, and offshore oil and gas are continually at risk of preventable accidents, making cooperative measures crucial for both accident prevention and response.
Cooperative search-and-rescue protocols are a fundamental requirement, particularly given the vast responsibilities some nations hold over extensive ocean areas. Major accidents, such as those involving offshore oil rigs, would necessitate significantly enhanced regional cooperation compared to standard search-and-rescue missions. Many countries in the Indian Ocean are under-resourced and ill-prepared for significant maritime disasters.
The Indian Ocean region has witnessed four of the seven worst container ship disasters recently. Incidents include the sinking of the bulk carrier Nur Allya, likely due to the liquefaction of nickel ore cargo, and several ferry disasters, particularly in Bangladesh, Indonesia, and East Africa. The weaknesses in the international Port State Control (PSC) regime in this region raise concerns about the safety of ships, as substandard vessels are more prone to accidents and illegal activities.
The IOMOU serves as the primary PSC regime in the region, yet has significant shortcomings. Notably, key maritime countries like Pakistan and Somalia are not members, and several member states reported no inspections in recent years. With existing guidelines suggesting that member states should inspect at least 10% of foreign ships, actual inspection rates remain alarmingly low, with Australia conducting the majority of reported inspections.
To enhance maritime safety, greater emphasis is needed on practices like PSC, ferry safety, and cargo loading procedures. The current oversight of maritime safety by naval forces has hindered significant progress, as they focus primarily on security. A potential solution would involve civilianizing the approach toward maritime safety, allowing coast guards and civil agencies to take the lead.
Establishing a dedicated regional forum similar to the Asia-Pacific Heads of Maritime Safety Agencies could facilitate discussions and cooperation among Indian Ocean nations. By convening senior maritime officials, such a forum could foster the exchange of ideas and promote collaborative efforts to improve maritime safety in the region.
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