The world relies on a safe, secure and efficient international shipping industry. Representatives from Australia and signatory nations to the Asia Pacific (Tokyo) and Indian Ocean Memorandums of Understanding (TMOU and IOMOU) on port State control (PSC) will come together on 24 February in Gold Coast, Queensland, for the inaugural joint seminar promoting safer shipping in the region.
The Joint Tokyo and Indian Ocean MoU Seminar for PSC Officers, titled ‘Building collaboration to improve maritime safety across the seas’, will run until 28 February, hosting approximately 70 delegates.
There will be a mix of presentations, workshops and activities aimed at achieving a safer shipping industry, improving ship inspection guidelines and strengthening maritime relationships in the Asia-Pacific and Indian Ocean regions.
The seminar will feature keynote speaker Jodi Munn Barrow, Secretary General of the Caribbean MoU and Hideo Kubota, Secretary of the Tokyo MoU (speaker biographies attached).
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) Head of Inspections Bruce Whitby said international gatherings like this were crucial to the success of the worldwide PSC regime.
“Shipping is truly international, and it can only operate effectively if the regulations and standards are agreed, adopted and implemented on an international basis.”
“This seminar highlights the importance of international cooperation and effective communication”.
“We will also be celebrating women working in maritime and their important role in the industry, with almost 50% of the presenters being women from the industry,” Mr Whitby said.
The Tokyo MoU was signed in 1993 and aims to promote effective port State control (PSC)
regimes in the Asia-Pacific region to eliminate substandard shipping through the co-operation of its members and harmonisation of their activities.
The IOMOU was finalised in 1997 to promote the effective implementation of an improved and harmonised system of PSC to eliminate substandard shipping and practices, promote maritime safety, protect the marine environment and safeguard working and living conditions on board ships.
PSC MoU seminar – speaker biographies
Keynote speaker, Jodi Munn Barrow has served as Secretary General of the Caribbean MoU on Port State Control for 16 years.
Jodi’s responsibilities include (among others) managing the Caribbean MoU secretariat, ensuring the efficient functioning of the organisation, and maintaining effective communication with member states.
She also oversees the development and implementation of strategies, policies, and initiatives to promote maritime safety, security, and environmental protection in the Caribbean.
Along with facilitating cooperation among member states, port authorities, and other stakeholders to ensure consistent and effective port State control (PSC) inspections.
Jodi’s other roles include supporting training and capacity-building programs for PSC officers to enhance their knowledge, skills, and effectiveness in carrying out ship inspections.
She also represents the Caribbean MoU in regional and international forums, advocating for the interests and priorities of the Caribbean MoU member states.
Hideo Kubota was elected Secretary at the Tokyo MoU PSC Committee held in 2016.
The Secretariat, among other things, organises trainings for PSC officers including through seminars.
Hideo studied naval architecture at university in Japan and has over 35 years working experience at the Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT).
Achintya Bikash Dutta, (Achintya) holds the position of the Secretary of the Indian Ocean Memorandum of Understanding (IOMOU) Secretariat since February 2020, completing one year of service as Deputy Secretary, after leaving the Indian Maritime Administration as the Senior Deputy Director General of Shipping (Technical).
Achintya has been involved in the PSC activities with the Indian Maritime Administration (the Directorate General of Shipping) for almost for two decades at various ports and positions.
Prior to this, he was a mariner for many years including 7 years as Chief engineer on board ships of different types.
He is also an approved Examiner by India for all grades of engineering COC examinations, and ISO/ISM/ISPS/MLC Lead Auditor.
Achintya has represented India on the various committees and Inter-sessional meetings of the IMO as the head of delegation and attended many other meetings of the national level or in the UN Level on various topics related to maritime industry and education.
Mariko Okubo is Principal PSC Officer for Tohoku District Transport Bureau in Sendai, Japan.
After seagoing experience, Mariko began her career as a maritime technical official at the MLIT in 2002.
She became a dedicated PSC Officer in 2016, working at Headquarters in Tokyo for 3 years, assisting with the technical cooperation activities of the Tokyo MoU, to developing PSC procedures employing a ‘pragmatic approach’ to the enforcement of Convention requirements.
After her engagement at Headquarters, she worked again as Chief Flag State Inspector for 2 years before being reappointed a PSC Officer in 2021 and promoted to her current position in 2024.
Mariko joined an exchange program with Canada in 2014 and worked as a PSC trainer and lecturer with the Tokyo MOU in Yokohama from 2015 to 2023, lecturer at a PSC seminar in Shanghai in 2017 and the Expert Mission PSC training from 2021 to 2023.
