T
he Myanma Port Authority organized a ceremony to commission two new tugboats ordered to be built by China into service and the World Maritime Day Ceremony at Kyan Mar Yay jetty in Pansodan of Yangon Region yesterday.
Union Minister for Transport and Communications Admiral Tin Aung San, Yangon Region Chief Minister U Hla Soe, Yangon Command Commander Maj-Gen Nyunt Win Swe, other officials of the ministry, Managing Director of Myanmar Port Authority, officials of UMFCCI and Brother Associations, importers and exporters attended the event.
During the ceremony, the Union Minister highlighted the important role of maritime trade in the global economy and Myanmar economy. He then said Yangon port is the main entry/exit gate of international maritime trade.
Of the total trade value of over $36.7 billion in the 2019-2020 financial year, Myanmar’s maritime trade volume exceeded $26.8 billion and the percentage is 73 per cent. Therefore, it needs to upgrade the jetties, provide the freight-handling scales, gather the human resources and apply the techniques effectively like the international countries.
Currently, due to the cooperation work between the government and Public-Private Partnership, the country has 45 jetties where the large international cargo ships can dock at the same time.
Then, the Managing Director of Myanma Port Authority reported on the two new tugboats and played the video clips of the construction of these tugboats.
The Union Minister and attendees cut the ribbons to open the ceremony that the two new tugboats commissioned in the services, and they inspected the tugboats.
The two new tugboats were built at the cost of $13.563 million in China.
After that, the Union Minister and party joined the World Maritime Day (2021) ceremony held at the meeting hall of Myanma Port Authority (head office).
A total of 56 representatives from 20 countries including the Consultant of International Maritime Organization, officials of International Maritime Law Institute (IMLI), India Ocean MoU Secretariat, IMO-IPECA GISEA, ASEAN’s maritime authorities, US coast guard, the Philippines coast guard, Oil Spill Response Limited (OSRL) and students of World Maritime University of Sweden joined the ceremony via a virtual platform.
During the ceremony, the Union Minister talked about the holding of World Maritime Day yearly under the leadership of IMO to ensure the safety and security of the maritime environment. Myanmar also participates in today event with the theme of “Seafarers: at the core of shipping’s future”. The UN General Assembly urged the member countries to recognize the seamen as key workers and provide needed assistance for crew change and repatriation. The government provided crew change services for more than 10,000 Myanmar seamen to date. Moreover, the country prepared healthcare services for foreign seamen and officials of the maritime sector.
He also appreciated the efforts of seamen for trading amid the COVID-19 pandemic. —MNA
