Institutional meetings continue at the Cagliari Port Authority, which on March 26 hosted representatives of the Marshall Islands Maritime Administration for a discussion with the Port State Control Inspectors of the Cagliari Coast Guard. Rear Admiral Giovanni Stella, Maritime Director of Central-Southern Sardinia and Commander of the Port Authority, attended the meeting.
During the meeting, the head of the Marshall Islands merchant fleet illustrated the progress of inspections carried out on board their vessels by Italian inspectors, highlighting the size of the fleet and the most frequent problems encountered.
The Marshall Islands registry remains the third largest in the world, after Panama and Liberia, with over 6,000 registered vessels belonging to owners and operators from around the world. The most represented segments are bulk carriers, oil tankers, and gas carriers.
The meeting provided an opportunity to share insights into developments in maritime safety, in a rapidly evolving sector, and to exchange experiences among the inspectors present.
Admiral Stella summed up the spirit of the meeting, with words that encapsulated the spirit of both flag administrations: "Ensure a constant reduction in substandard ships to protect the marine ecosystem from potential accidents, as well as improve the quality of living and working conditions on board for the benefit of seafarers."
The day concluded with Stella handing over the Cagliari Port Authority crest to Captain Theodore Lalas, Fleet Operations Manager of the Marshall Islands.
(Unioneonline)
