Maritime Technology Co-operation Centre for Africa Region (MTCC-Africa), in collaboration with the Namibia Ports Authority (NAMPORT), Namibia’s maritime authority, conducted a National Workshop in Walvis Bay Town, Namibia, between 29 and 30 August 2018. This was a capacity building event on climate change, that was made possible with financial support from the European Union and technical oversight by the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

Workshop Objectives
Under the workshop theme “MTCC Africa, MARPOL Annex VI and Debate on African Ports”, participants were sensitized on the following:

1. Global Maritime Technology Cooperation Centers Network (GMN)
2. Vision and objectives of MTCC-Africa
3. Impact of maritime shipping on air quality within ports
4. Effects of fossil fuel emissions on climate change
5. Need for energy efficiency onboard ships
6. The need to embrace low carbon technologies in maritime shipping industry
7. International conventions and laws governing marine pollution (MARPOL)
8. Efforts and support from the European Union on climate change
9. The need for States to actively participate in IMO activities

Workshop Outcomes
At the end of the two days workshop, the following was achieved:

1. The participants understood the impact of maritime shipping industry on climate change
2. The contribution of the European Union on climate change mitigation measures was appreciated
3. The role of IMO as a technical resource on protection of the marine environment was explained
4. Benefits of collaborating with MTCC-Africa and the role of NAMPORT in achieving MTCC-Africa’s objectives was understood.