US Congresswoman from the state of California, Nanette Diaz Barragán, has introduced the Climate Smart Ports Act to the floor of the House of Representatives. She was joined by 21 co-sponsors on the bill, which would establish a pipeline of US$1 billion per annum for port decarbonization initiatives. 

If passed, the act would improve air quality and health of those living and working around American ports, as well as increase the need for clean energy jobs in the American economy.

https://barragan.house.gov/barragan-introduces-climate-smart-ports-act-to-improve-air-quality-and-create-good-jobs-in-port-communities-across-america/ 

Posted on - 2020-06-24

In the interest of MARPOL and Basel/Waigani Convention compliance, an assessment on the impacts of bilge dumping has been introduced by SkyTruth this year. SDG 14 - Life Below Water is of paramount importance to Pacific Island Countries, and the currents of the heavily traveled high seas of the Pacific are not constrained to national borders. The negative environmental impact of bilge dumping are disproportionately felt by the Large Ocean States of the Pacific, so calls for compliance should resonate most vocally from island nations.

 

https://skytruth.org/2020/03/bilge-dumping-at-sea-why-should-i-care/ 

Posted on - 2020-06-24

Customarily reliant upon refit and repair of vessels around the region, due to border restrictions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, Fiji Ships and Heavy Industries Ltd. i(FSHIL) s now focusing on expanding beyond the shipping market to expand its heavy industries portfolio.

This diversification highlights the need for revitalizing domestic shipbuilding capacity. With domestic vessels on-order and under construction, work would be able to continue in the face of border closures. Discussions around the Pacific Blue Shipping Partnership have included FSHIL with the intention of meeting these domestic (and intra-regional) shipbuilding needs.

https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/business/fshil-diversifies-its-services/ 

Posted on - 2020-06-24