2024-07-03 09:10:53
This event, organized by Tanger Med, in collaboration with the International Port Commanders Association (IHMA), aims to bring together port commanders and officers from Africa and around the world, in order to promote exchanges and debates around port and maritime issues, as well as the strengthening of professional networks.
Speaking on this occasion, the Director General of the Tangier Med Port Authority (TMPA), Hassan Abkari, stressed that this event, which brings together port commanders and experts from all over the world, is an opportunity to highlight the central role that ports play in the development of economies, and to share experiences and good practices, to establish partnerships beneficial to the development of the port and maritime industry.
Mr. Abkari, in this regard, emphasized the investments made by Tanger Med, a major project initiated by HM King Mohammed VI, in cutting-edge technologies and sustainable practices, with a view to meeting current and future challenges, stressing that this event aims to promote joint action by the entire international maritime community to ensure that ports can contribute to economic growth and become beacons of progress and sustainability.
For her part, the Director of Ports and Maritime Public Domain at the Ministry of Equipment and Water, Sanae El Amrani, welcomed the choice of Morocco, in particular the port of Tangier Med, to host this prestigious event, which aims to discuss emerging trends and respond to the challenges facing the maritime industry.
The official said that Morocco has an ambitious port strategy for 2030, which is based on a very clear vision to have efficient and sustainable ports and to strengthen the Kingdom’s position as a global logistics platform on the scale of the Mediterranean and the African continent.
She also noted that Morocco has adopted a green transition plan for ports, based on five strategic axes, namely energy and water efficiency, decarbonization, resilience to climate change, protection of the port and marine environment, and sustainable mobility, which is perfectly aligned with the sustainable development goals, and reflects the firm commitment of port stakeholders and authorities to promote best practices, adding: “through this strategic plan, we aspire to have more sustainable ports, by integrating practices and technologies that significantly reduce carbon emissions.”
For his part, IHMA President Paul O’Regan said the Association stands as a beacon of unity, collaboration and knowledge exchange among port captains worldwide, highlighting its role in pooling efforts and sharing experiences and expertise to address common challenges and seize shared opportunities.
“We are delighted to be gathered under one roof at Tanger Med to discuss advances in innovation, technology, safety and security, and we look forward to bringing this new knowledge back to our respective ports,” he continued, stressing that this event is also an opportunity for IHMA to highlight the latest innovations in call optimization, smart ports, technology, artificial intelligence, and the transition of pilotage to the future, as well as in terms of developments in mooring and port infrastructure, in addition to the statutory role of port commanders in security and incident management.
As for the Commander of the Tangier Med port, Kamal Lakhmas, stressed that the choice of the Tangier Med port to host this Congress is a recognition of the role it plays in world trade, as well as the role of the Port Authority in the progress and innovation of the maritime and port industry.
“We record more than 17,000 port calls per year and more than 35,000 ship movements planned and executed in the best conditions of safety and efficiency,” he noted, adding: “we work with our partners to further develop our performance and achieve excellence with Just-in-Time port calls and achieve a port without waiting time.”
The Secretary General of the International Maritime Organization, Arsenio Dominguez, said in a video message that digitalization is one of the keys to the success of the port interface, and that the path to carbon neutrality is now open.
This first edition in Africa, which will continue until May 23, has the participation of more than 200 people, including 30 global port authorities, and offers an unrivaled platform for exchanges and knowledge sharing in the region.
Discussions focus on critical topics such as optimizing port operations, environmental management, and integrating new technologies to improve port efficiency and sustainability.
Considered a key international event for discussing maritime and port issues, the IHMA congress is organized every 2 years in the world’s main commercial ports.
2024-07-03 09:10:53