A delegation from the Regional Maritime University (RMU) has arrived in Tanzania for the third edition of the Blue Economy Conference (BEC2024) set for July 4-5 at the Julius Nyerere International Convention Center.

The conference organised by the Dar es Salaam Maritime Institute (DMI), Tanzania in collaboration with the RMU in Accra, would be under the theme, “Navigating the Future: Integrating Maritime Safety and Security, Climate Change Actions and Technological Advancements for Blue Economy.”

Team RMU led by the Ag. Vice Chancellor Dr Jethro W. Brooks together with the University Registrar Dr Baboucarr Njie, Ag. Dean, Faculty of Maritime Studies Prof. Nana Ofosu Boateng, Dean, School of Graduate Studies Dr Gabriel Akakpo, Head of the Electrical Electronic Department, Dr Isaac Owusu Nyarko and University Librarian, Dr Amy Asimah would arrive in Tanzania today, Tuesday July 2 after departing Accra in early hours.

Meanwhile, Head of Research and Innovation Dr Robert Nyemah and Ms Sika Attipoe arrived in Tanzania last week to be part of processes ahead of the conference.

The conference is aimed at bringing together international stakeholders, focusing on promoting the blue economy to lead development across the continent.

Keynote Speaker for the event would be the Deputy Minister for Transport, Tanzania Mr David Mwakiposa Kihenzile, with other speakers including Secretary General, Maritime Organisation of West and Central Africa (MOWCA), Dr Paul Ikongshul Adalikwu, Maritime Law and Management Consultant, Dr Kofi Mbia, Special Advisor for Maritime and Blue Economy, Amb. Nancy Karigithu, Executive Director,Sierra Leone Maritime Authority Paul Sobba Massaquoi and Climate Specialist, Mr Pa Ousman Jarju.

The DMI had held the Blue Economy Conference for the past two years and now joining forces with the RMU to hold the third edition this year, following a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two giants in maritime education and training in February.

The MoU covers areas of research and publication, staff capacity building, organisation of conferences and seminars and workshops among others, hence the collaboration to hold this year’s conference.

The Ag. Vice Chancellor of the RMU, Dr Jethro W. Brooks Jr said, both institutions have committed to transforming economies across Africa by providing quality training and education that would ensure that young people were equipped and positioned to drive the maritime sector.

“We look forward for an insightful conference that would support the transformation of the African continent through the maritime industry,” he stated.

The blue economy every year, has an estimated turnover of between US$3 and six billion. This includes employment, ecosystem services provided by the ocean and cultural services. It is also estimated that fisheries and aquaculture contributes US$100 trillion per year and about 260 million jobs to the global economy, according to United Nations (UN) Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) report.

With the huge potential of the blue economy, Africa through the conference, is looking forward to developing the maritime sector to tap into its benefits for socio-economic growth.

The conference is also aimed at establishing a platform for capacity building and networking among stakeholders, fostering the blue economy in alignment with maritime safety and security, climate change considerations and technological advancements as outlined in the relevant Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The conference would tackle other areas including sustainable exploitation and utilisation of blue economy resources, ship seaworthiness and on board-ship competency challenges, business models for the blue economy, women in maritime sector, fishing industry and climate action policy and environmental protection.

There would also be discussions on Artificial Intelligence(AI) in maritime practices and the blue economy, renewable energy solutions for maritime transportation, information systems in maritime education and training, logistics, shipping and supply chains for the blue economy, climate-responsive maritime practices and coastal management, blue economy governance, law and policy as well as coastal and marine tourism development.