For the past seven years Plymouth University Marine Institute in collaboration with the Nautical Institute, the Institute of Marine Engineering Science and Technology and the Royal Institution of Naval Architects has celebrated World Maritime Day.
World Maritime Day was established by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), a London-based agency of the United Nations to focus attention on the importance of shipping safety, maritime security and the marine environment.
This year the theme for World Maritime Day is ‘IMO Conventions – Effective Implementation’.
The IMO has, over the years, developed some 53 conventions which aim to ensure that international shipping keeps up to date with technical and technological advances. The best known convention is the ‘Safety of Life at Sea Convention’ which was initiated following the sinking of the RMS Titanic in 1912.
Establishing an international convention means little unless it is
implemented and enforced by national authorities such as the Maritime and
Coastguard Agency of the UK.
The keynote speaker at this year’s celebration is Captain Des Howell. The title of Captain Howell’s talk is ‘Ship Registration and Quality of Shipping’.
Captain Howell followed a conventional career at sea before becoming a
shore-based ship surveyor.
After substantial experience as a surveyor at home and abroad, Captain
Howell was appointed Director and Chief Surveyor of the Isle of Man Ship
Registry and Marine Administration where between 1995 and 2006 he grew the Isle
of Man registered fleet from 120 to 450 ships.
In 2009 he became Director and Chief Surveyor with the Bermuda Department of Maritime Administration followed by a short period with the Antigua Department of Marine Services.
On his return to the UK he located to Plymouth where he set up his own consultancy business ‘H4 Maritime Limited’. H4 Maritime Limited provides advice to Flag States covering matters such as IMO audits and Maritime Labour Convention implementation. It also provides support to ship operators.
Captain des Howell who holds a Certificate of Competency as Extra Master
is a graduate of the University of London and Ashridge Business School.
The celebration commences at 6.45pm for 7pm. All persons interested in maritime matters
are welcome to attend.
Location: Jill Craigie Cinema, Roland Levinsky Building, Plymouth University.
For further details please contact Paul Wright. Email: paul.wright@plymouth.ac.uk / tel: +44 1752 405603.
