Remarks by the Minister of Transport, Ms Sindisiwe Chikunga on the occasion welcoming members states to the High-level Meeting on the Implementation of the Jeddah Amendment to the Djibouti Code of Conduct, Cape Town, South Africa
Master of Ceremony: Mr Sobantu Tilayi,
May I also Acknowledge the virtual support from the Secretary-General of International Maritime Organization (IMO), Mr. Kitack Lim
Minister of Public Works and Transport, Tanzania, Mr. Mbarawa Makame Mnyaa
Minister of Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs, Tanzania, Mr. Mvurya Salim Mkala
Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation, Maldives, Ms. Aishath Nahula
Deputy Minister: Department of Ports and Maritime Affairs, Yemen, Mr. Ali Mohammed Al-Subhi,
DDG: Maritime, Mr Mthunzi Madiya
Acting CEO of SAMSA, Mr Tau Morwe
Chair of the Steering Committee of Djibouti Code of Conduct – Jeddah Amendment, Saudi Arabia represented by Rear Admiral Naji Al-Juhani
EU Ambassador to South Africa, H.E Ambassador Sandra Kramer
Principal Secretaries
Directors-General
Heads of Delegation
Delegates of respective countries, International Organizations and Affiliated Partners
Ladies and Gentlemen,
You are heartily welcomed in our beautiful country South Africa.
INTRODUCTION
Let me first applaud the Djibouti Code of Conduct (DCoC) Member States for heeding the call to ensure safety and security along the Western Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aden in the wake of dreadful maritime threats mainly constituting of piracy and armed robbery at sea.
It is through the efforts of the DCoC and greater cooperation that piracy and other criminal acts against ships were supressed.
It is significant to further applaud the evolution which incorporates adaptation to the contemporary world as foresighted.
Such was demonstrated through the January 2017 meeting that took place in Saudi Arabia and resulted in the Jeddah Amendment to the Djibouti Code of Conduct.
The Jeddah Amendment extended the scope of the DCoC and in addition to fighting piracy, it encourages member states to also fight crimes such drug smuggling; human trafficking; Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing (IUUF) and other crimes against ships.
It is critical to note and commend that Member States did not just strengthen cooperation but pledged to adhere to the United Nations 2030 agenda for sustainable development. Specifically goal 14; which says and I quote,
“Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development” and goal 16 “Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels”, unquote.
CREATION OF SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC INVESTMENTS TO ENHANCE MARITME SECURITY
Programme Director;
The determination from Member States to create stable conditions that encourage investment and tourism for sustainable economic growth, food security, employment, prosperity and stability is commendable.
However, we must acknowledge the reality that; to offer maritime security, governments around the region need specialized capabilities suitable to confront the grave dangers at sea.
Massive economic investment is required to develop systems and institutions in our maritime domain. Governments in the region must join hands and through capacity building initiatives member states must share resources and support each other.
The Friends of the DCoC play a big role in the success of the programme. They assist member states in many ways, especially in the implementation of the resolutions of the DCoC.
Fighting piracy and other illicit crimes at Sea requires an effective communication system. It is important for the DCoC to finalise arrangements relating to Information Sharing initiatives.
This is a sensitive matter as member states might prefer systems different from each other.
However, I am convinced that the next three days will resolve the issues around the Information Sharing system/platform to be used in the region.
The high-level meeting taking place from today until 26th October 2023 must craft maritime security strategies that encapsulate response mechanisms to those non-conventional threats.
The DCoC has always encouraged member states to develop Maritime Security Strategies for themselves. This meeting in South Africa will take that initiative further and encourage the member states to look at a possible Regional Maritime Security Strategy.
Work has commenced on this and the discussions in the next three days will give clear direction on this big and challenging initiative.
This will empower the region to own its solutions. The regional maritime security strategy, if achieved, will assist member states with focus areas as and when they develop their own strategies.
This meeting must reinforce the role of the Djibouti Code of Conduct – Jeddah Amendment as the premier forum for maritime security coordination in the Western Indian Ocean Region and the Gulf of Aden.
Institutions such as the Regional Maritime Information Fusion Center in Madagascar and the Regional Coordination Operations Center in the Seychelles are essential for the success of the agenda of the DCoC.
It is important for the DCoC to work closely with these centers as they add value towards the fulfilment of the DCoC agenda.
MARITIME SECURITY AND TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCED SOLUTIONS
Ladies and gentlemen;
The global maritime fraternity has embraced technology, but that comes at a cost and we are all aware of the disruptive outcomes because of security breaches. It is important for members to put counter systems and be on high alert for cybersecurity threats and I would like to see this on the DCoC agenda.
These recommendations will assist to strengthen the Djibouti Code of Conduct – Jeddah Amendment become the premium forum for maritime security and take a leading role in the coordination of maritime security efforts in the Western Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden.
Member States are encouraged to utilize this opportunity to provide strategic leadership which will ensure genuine alignment of regional needs and priorities.
Member states know their challenges and should know suitable solutions. They must work together to find regional solutions for regional problems. They must work as a family, share information with each other and build the capacity in the region with the assistance of their friends.
South Africa pledges its full support to the vision and mission of the Djibouti Code of Conduct – Jeddah Amendment.
South Africa believes that it is through greater regional cooperation that countries can build a stable maritime environment that contributes to the peace, good order and continuing prosperity of the Western Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aden region.
SOUTH AFRICA AND MARITIME SECURITY
In South Africa, maritime security especially in our ports is one of the most primary area of investments. While we have invested in improving Port access we have equally introduced quite a number of measures to enhance security and deter piracy. As South Africa we have strengthened co-ordination through participation in sharing of resources and coordination of activities in the area of maritime security.
This coordination efforts have significantly improved working together to fight the scourge of piracy in the region which has seen the presence of the South African Navy and deployment of warships in the patrol of the Mozambique Channel.
In turn, this is also supported by the SADC Maritime Security Strategy. It is in our best interest to ensure less disruption on the maritime routes, to assist Tanzania and Mozambique to curb elements of piracy.
Information Sharing:
As South Africa, Information sharing with members on the security breaches along the western Indian Region is continuous and key factor in implementation strategy, and more especially in the fight against human and drug trafficking and vessels of interest (through their suspicious behavior) are key elements. We are fortunate this far as South Africa because we have not experienced actual elements of piracy against ships in our territorial waters.
Capacity Building:
South Africa Capacity building wherein the South African Navy has offered training to Mozambican Naval forces. In addition to that, South African also offered capacity building initiatives to the DCoC through the Djibouti Training Centre which seeks to improve member State capability to fight the attacks against ships.
South Africans were trained in conducting and implementing the ISPS Code, which took place here in Cape Town in 2022. The target for training were Port Security Officers to enhance their ISPS implementation capability and we have seen improvement with respect to maritime security breaches in South African ports. We have also agreed with DCoC to train South Africans to conduct Port Security Audits and we are looking forward to that.
REQUEST FOR SUPPORT FOR RE-ELECTION INTO IMO COUNCIL
Honourable Ministers, Heads of Delegations and Esteemed delegates;
We are all getting ready to fully participate and contribute meaningfully at the upcoming International Maritime Organization (IMO) Elective Assembly. In this regard, South Africa will be standing for re-election into the IMO Council. And, we highly appreciate the collaborations and cooperation we have had with each country individually and as regional and multilateral levels. To further deepen our partnership, we appeal for your support to vote for South Africa’s return into the IMO Council.
On a lighter note Programme Director; as Member State we are in the beautiful South Africa, in Cape Town, the most beautiful city in the world. We call it Mother City, as it is adorned by the Majestic Table Mountain and the historical Robben Island, how can I forget the Cape Point landmark. In your schedule, please allocate time to see the many more natural wonders Cape Town has to offer.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, ladies and gentlemen, I can only hope that the deliberations today will add to the body of knowledge, enhance the implementation of the Jeddah Amendment that we all subscribe to, and to ensure that we all make meaningful contributions from maritime connectivity and promote economic growth in the region. The call and scope to protect and provide maritime security is broad in nature and working together as a collective to perform our duties has never been more important than now and in the words of Ryunosuke Satoro “Individually, we are one drop, together we are an ocean”.
I thank you.
