WOC AND THE NAUTICAL INSTITUTE LAUNCH GUIDE TO MARINE SPATIAL PLANNING FOR THE SHIPPING INDUSTRY

The World Ocean Council (WOC) and The Nautical Institute (NI) have jointly produced a guide to assist maritime professionals to better understand and engage in Marine Spatial Planning (MSP). The guidance will also help MSP proponents understand shipping industry requirements in relation to management of ocean areas.

With this guidance document, “The Shipping Industry and Marine Spatial Planning: A Professional Approach”, WOC and the NI are working to ensure that maritime professionals can readily become more informed and involved in MSP, particularly at the local level. The guide provides an introduction to MSP and an overview of key shipping-related issues to need to be considered as MSP moves forward in various parts of the world.

David Patraiko, Director of Projects at the NI, said: “As more and more stakeholders seek to make use of the marine environment, it is vital that professionals from all disciplines within the maritime community play a role in ensuring users of the ocean act in a coordinated and informed way. Re-routing a shipping lane may seem like an obvious solution in accommodating a new offshore wind farm, for example, but if it increases the risk of a collision or grounding then this needs to be factored into the decision making process.”

Leslie-Ann McGee, WOC Programs Director, explained: “Proactive, constructive and coordinated participation in MSP by an informed ocean business community is critical. The shipping industry and maritime professionals must be at the heart of this process. The new guide from WOC and the NI will assist maritime professionals with developing the knowledge base for leadership in ocean planning.”

The jointly produced guide identifies each of the main steps involved in a typical MSP process and highlights how the shipping community might participate and offer its expertise. It also contains a number of case studies and annexes, providing useful information on issues such as risk assessment and space needed for maneuvering and collision avoidance.

“The Shipping Industry and Marine Spatial Planning: A Professional Approach” is being launched by Patraiko and Holthus at an MSP seminar hosted by the Nautical Institute’s Hong Kong branch on 8 November 2013. More information is at: http://www.nautinsthk.com/MarineSpatialPlanning.pdf

The MSP guidance document can be downloaded at: http://www.nautinst.org/en/forums/msp/

About The Nautical Institute

The Nautical Institute is the international professional body for qualified seafarers and others with an interest in nautical matters. It provides a wide range of services to enhance the professional standing and knowledge of members who are drawn from all sectors of the maritime world. Founded in 1972, it has over 40 branches worldwide and some 7,000 members in over 110 countries.

Contact: Bridget Hogan on +44 (0)20 7928 1351 or at bh@nautinst.org

About the World Ocean Council (WOC)

The WOC is the only international, cross-sectoral alliance for private sector leadership and collaboration in “Corporate Ocean Responsibility”. Companies and associations worldwide are distinguishing themselves as leaders in ocean sustainability, stewardship and science by joining the WOC. Members to date include over 70 leadership organizations from a wide range of ocean industries: oil and gas, shipping, seafood, fisheries, aquaculture, mining, renewable energy, ocean technology, maritime law, marine environmental services and other areas. For the current list of WOC Members, click here. The WOC News Release is received by over 30,000 ocean industry stakeholders around the world. For more information on this and other programs, contact Leslie-Ann McGee at la.mcgee@oceancouncil.org

Contact: Paul Holthus, Executive Director Phone: +1 (808) 277-9008
email:paul.holthus@oceancouncil.orgWeb:www.oceancouncil.org