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MARITIME ORGANISATION OF WEST AND CENTRAL AFRICA (MOWCA) Sub-Regional Sectoral Integration - for cost effective maritime/transit transport services, high on safety, security, low on pollution |
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Experts of Sub-regional Coast Guard Network Coordinating Centres of MOWC Meet
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The meeting which was at invitation the Secretary General of MOWCA, Mr. Magnus Teye ADDICO, in collaboration with current Chairman of the Organization, H.E. Souleymane N’diene NDIAYE, Minister of State, Minister of Maritime Economy, Maritime Transports and Fishing of the Republic of Senegal. It was presided over by Mr. Joshua Okpo, Representative of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Chairman of Commission 1 on maritime security and protection of marine, river and lagoon environment.. The Experts of Principal and Zonal Coordinating Centres as well as the following Training Institutes: Regional Maritime Academy of Abidjan (Côte d’ivoire), Maritime Academy of Oron (Nigeria) and Regional Maritime University of Accra (Ghana) participated to the meeting. Messrs. Hoba Attoumou Honorat and Luguje Michael, Representative of International Maritime Organisation (IMO) respectively for Francophone and Anglophone countries of West and Central Africa were also represented. Mr. Eric Bernard, Marketing Director of Alcatel-Lucent, who make a presentation on the integrated system of maritime traffic management and port security, also took part to the meeting. Lieutenant-colonel Tano Koffi Bertin, Director General of Maritime and Port Affairs of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire welcomed the different delegations. Then, Mr. Magnus Teye Addico, Secretary General of MOWCA gave more details about the main objectives of the meeting such as getting the signature of all MOWCA Coastal member States and exhorting them to implement the Memorandum, and developing partnership between MOWCA member States and Donors. Then, Mr. HOBA Attoumou Honorat, Representative of IMO for Francophone States of West and Central Africa expressed the willingness of IMO to continue supporting the project of MOWCA integrated Sub regional Coast Guard Network. Finally, Mr Pierre Sarr, Representative of the current Chairman, presented apologies of the Chairman who did not have time to travel to Abidjan due to political concern. He also expressed the compassion, sympathy and solidarity of the Chairman to the Minister of Transport of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire for the tragic death of four (4) Ivorian Maritime Affairs Agents occasioned by the maritime piracy. The Ivoirian Minister, in his opening statement emphasized the remarkable progress realized by the Republic of Cote d’Ivoire in the implementation of the MOU. He, also deplored the death of Ivorian Maritime Affairs Agents who have been killed by the crew of “pirate” fishing vessels without resistance in the Ivorian waters. According to the Minister, this sad situation should be a supplementary reason for MOWCA member States to give more interest to the project of Integrated Coast Guard Network. |
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