Namibian officials have completed a week-long training on implementing control and compliance measures for ships arriving in the country’s ports.

The National Port State Control Workshop (9-13 September), led by IMO, brought together 29 maritime professionals from various agencies to discuss the issue at Walvis Bay, home to Namibia’s largest harbour.

The aim was to enhance the country’s capacity to enforce international safety standards under the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), particularly SOLAS Chapter XI-2 on special measures to enhance maritime security.

This includes control and compliance measures to be carried out on incoming ships, verifying that they fulfil the requirements of IMO international regulations, and to ensure maritime safety and security.

Workshop participants included representatives from the Ministry of Works and Transport (Directorate of Maritime Affairs), Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Ministry of Home Affairs, Safety and Security, Ministry of Defence and Veterans Affairs, the Namibian Ports Authority and the National Petroleum Corporation.

The workshop encouraged knowledge-sharing and exchange of best practices to promote proper understanding of an effective and adequately control and compliance regime.

The initiative was part of the EU-funded project on Port Security and Safety of Navigation in Eastern and Southern Africa and the Indian Ocean Project. Under the project, IMO assists nine participating countries to enhance maritime security and safety within the region, in line with the 2050 Africa’s Integrated Maritime Strategy.