The National Institute of the Sea (INAMAR, IP) wants to improve the mechanisms for identifying the causes of maritime accidents, a measure aimed at preventing tragedies in Mozambican waters, like the one that occurred last Sunday (07) and resulted in the death of 98 people.
To this end, the First Extraordinary Session of the Intersectoral Technical Council for the Sea, a consultative body of the Board of Directors, was held today (12) in Matola, the capital of Maputo province.
During the event, participants will discuss appropriate measures to guarantee maritime safety and better advise the government on how to prevent cases of this kind from occurring.
“At this meeting we are analysing the proposal for the Regulation Defining the Organisation and Operation of the Permanent Commission for the Investigation of Maritime Accidents and Incidents (CPIAM) with a view to improving the causes of maritime accidents and incidents. Improvements are needed to prevent deaths at sea, loss of property and pollution of the marine environment,” said INAMAR spokesman Leonid Chimarizene.
“We want the causes of maritime accidents and incidents to be investigated, analysed in order to ascertain the event,” said Chimarizene, explaining that the initiative will also prevent the repetition of similar accidents.
In Mozambique, CPIAM’s mission is to assess the causes of maritime accidents and incidents, but only for vessels over 10 metres long.
In the event of a shipwreck on the scale of the one that occurred last Sunday, a commission of enquiry should be set up.
This is why INAMAR is keen to improve the mechanisms for identifying the causes of maritime accidents and incidents. It will also make it possible to hold those responsible for accidents accountable in the event of negligence.
The measure aims to prevent accidents similar to the one that occurred on 7 April when around 130 citizens boarded a fishing boat to escape an alleged cholera outbreak. The boat later sank near Ilha de Moçambique, killing at least 98 people after encountering a giant wave.
In Mozambique, for vessels to put to sea they must first be certified, guarantee their seaworthiness, have a certified vessel certificate, and have all the safety equipment needed to safeguard human life.
AIM
