Congress to Consider Micronesian Eligibility for US Merchant Marine Licenses
The Transportion Committee at the 9th Micronesian Chief Executives Summit reported that the region has received substantial assistance from the United States Coast Guard, through the International Port Liaison Officer Program and port security visits, and other helpful projects, such as maritime search and rescue training.
In addition, the United States Coast Guard Sector in Guam, the FSM and Palau jointly conducted the Operation Rai-Balang from March 21-27, 2008.
According to the Summit Communique, the United States Congress is expected to deliberate, in its next session, the measure to make certain Micronesians eligible for merchant marine licenses so they can serve on United States flagged ships.
The Secretariat of the Pacific Community and the Pacific Islands Maritime Association have conducted maritime security audits to ensure compliance with the ISPS Code and provided training on access control.
In the area of aviation infrastructure improvement, the Committee reported that the Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) building in Palau was completed this month. The ARFF building projects for Yap, Kosrae and Pohnpei recently broke ground, and the project in Chuuk will break ground in May 2008.
The Transportation Committee made the following recommendations for the Chief Executives:
- Dialog should be commenced with the United States Government to seek technical assistance from the United States Coast Guard to help Kosrae and Palau fix and improve Aids to Marine Navigation.
- Discussions should be commenced in the FSM to review the immigration clearance procedures for container ships calling into consecutive FSM ports, with an aim of alleviating the burden of the multiple immigration clearance requirements at all FSM ports being visited on a single voyage.
- Discussions should be commenced with the United States Government, Department of Homeland Security, to provide financial assistance under the International Port Security Program, to help improve security infrastructure in the ports located in Member States.
- In the spirit of cooperation, a dialogue should be commenced with the Government of Guam and its Port Authority to lower or waive the transshipment fee being charged against Micronesian bound cargoes. In addition, Member States should strive to establish transparent and equitable port charges and pilot fees, to make Micronesian ports more attractive to the cruise ship industry.
- Dialogue should be commenced with operators of commercial vessels calling into ports of MCES Member States to consider taking on cadets from Member States.
- Alternate arrangements of transport should be explored, to assist MCES Member States to develop the export of their domestic agricultural and aquaculture products.
- Member States should be encouraged to make Pilotage mandatory, in appropriate cases, for all its ports and to establish regional minimum standards of training and qualifications of pilots.
- Member States should be encouraged to enhance regional cooperation to ensure airport security personnel are properly trained and certified in security methodology and use of firearms.
The Chief Executives considered these recommendations, thanked the Transportation Committee, and adopted the recommendations. It was further recommended that aviation issues be further explored with representatives from that industry. (Exerpted from 9th WMCES Communique)
- Yokwe Online, May 18, 2008
