Namibia in groundbreaking agreement

NAMIBIA has become a signatory to a groundbreaking agreement in maritime search and rescue (SAR) services with South Africa, Madagascar, Mozambique and the Comoros.

Works, Transport and Communication Minister Joel Kaapanda signed the agreement on behalf of the Namibian Government at Walvis Bay last week Thursday. Kaapanda said the multilateral agreement caters for both national and international needs in the coordination of distress messages at sea as well as between sea and shore.It also aims to strengthen regional cooperation in the area of maritime search and rescue operations.The signing of the agreement coincided with the inauguration of the first Namibia Maritime Rescue and Search Coordination Centre (NMRCC) at Telecom Namibia’s technical building in Walvis Bay.The centre is equipped with a state-of-the-art maritime global distress and safety system (MGDSS).The SAR centre at Walvis Bay is part of the five regional NMRCCs and 26 MRSCRs in Africa, designed to assist African countries to put in place an adequate SAR infrastructure and, by so doing, boost International Marine Organisation’s efforts to implement the Global Search and Rescue Plan, agreed at the IMO conference held in 1998 in Fremantle, Australia.Speaking at the occasion, Telecom Namibia’s Managing Director, Frans Ndoroma, gave a short history of the company’s Maritime Radio Station, which has been providing a 24-hour monitoring service on the international distress and safety frequencies, as well as the transmission and monitoring of safety-related messages, weather forecasts and reports, navigational warnings and Navtex broadcasts, connected to medical advice and evacuation assistance and other associated safety services.”Until this day, Telecom Namibia has carried the onus for the provision of distress communication via our Maritime Radio Station here at Walvis Bay,” said Ndoroma.Minister Kaapanda commended Telecom Namibia, together with IMO, for the commitment shown towards the establishment of a national SAR centre.”I would like to thank Telecom Namibia as well as staff members from my ministry for the job well done,” he said.Kaapanda vowed that his ministry would work closely with IMO to ensure that the GMDSS operators have sufficient skills to provide world-class service to the maritime industry.He also urged local vessel owners to ensure that their vessels are equipped with the necessary GMDSS communication equipment on board for better communication via the centre.Meanwhile, IMO Regional Coordinator, John Paul Muindi said the establishment of appropriate SAR facilities in this part of world was seen as a key component in the implementation of the Global SAR Plan.Muindi said the establishment of the SAR facility in Walvis Bay would help to fill a massive gap in the effective SAR coverage.”It will play a considerable part in achieving the overall objective of safeguarding life at sea and increasing the chances that those who find themselves in distress will be able to reach shore safely, while, at the same time, strengthening the region’s response to enhance maritime security and any threat posed by pirates and armed robbers,” he added.NampaKaapanda said the multilateral agreement caters for both national and international needs in the coordination of distress messages at sea as well as between sea and shore.It also aims to strengthen regional cooperation in the area of maritime search and rescue operations.The signing of the agreement coincided with the inauguration of the first Namibia Maritime Rescue and Search Coordination Centre (NMRCC) at Telecom Namibia’s technical building in Walvis Bay.The centre is equipped with a state-of-the-art maritime global distress and safety system (MGDSS).The SAR centre at Walvis Bay is part of the five regional NMRCCs and 26 MRSCRs in Africa, designed to assist African countries to put in place an adequate SAR infrastructure and, by so doing, boost International Marine Organisation’s efforts to implement the Global Search and Rescue Plan, agreed at the IMO conference held in 1998 in Fremantle, Australia.Speaking at the occasion, Telecom Namibia’s Managing Director, Frans Ndoroma, gave a short history of the company’s Maritime Radio Station, which has been providing a 24-hour monitoring service on the international distress and safety frequencies, as well as the transmission and monitoring of safety-related messages, weather forecasts and reports, navigational warnings and Navtex broadcasts, connected to medical advice and evacuation assistance and other associated safety services.”Until this day, Telecom Namibia has carried the onus for the provision of distress communication via our Maritime Radio Station here at Walvis Bay,” said Ndoroma.Minister Kaapanda commended Telecom Namibia, together with IMO, for the commitment shown towards the establishment of a national SAR centre.”I would like to thank Telecom Namibia as well as staff members from my ministry for the job well done,” he said.Kaapanda vowed that his ministry would work closely with IMO to ensure that the GMDSS operators have sufficient skills to provide world-class service to the maritime industry.He also urged local vessel owners to ensure that their vessels are equipped with the necessary GMDSS communication equipment on board for better communication via the centre.Meanwhile, IMO Regional Coordinator, John Paul Muindi said the establishment of appropriate SAR facilities in this part of world was seen as a key component in the implementation of the Global SAR Plan.Muindi said the establishment of the SAR facility in Walvis Bay would help to fill a massive gap in the effective SAR coverage.”It will play a considerable part in achieving the overall objective of safeguarding life at sea and increasing the chances that those who find themselves in distress will be able to reach shore safely, while, at the same time, strengthening the region’s response to enhance maritime security and any threat posed by pirates and armed robbers,” he added.Nampa