Text Box: The theme of Caribbean Maritime Week this year was “Climate Change: A Challenge for Jamaican Maritime Too”. Caribbean Maritime week, celebrated September 20-25, is designed around World Maritime Day which is designated by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), a United Nations body which monitors and regulates all maritime affairs. The week’s events focused on the challenges that Jamaica’s marine environment currently faces as well as the solutions that are being put into effect to alleviate and overcome these challenges.  The International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution by Ships or the MARPOL convention, to which Jamaica is a signatory, seeks to protect our marine environment from accidental or operational accidents. It looks at pollution by oil, chemicals, harmful substances in packaged form, sewage, garbage and also air pollution. Now the IMO has been developing even more stringent measures to restrict pollution such as a Ship Energy Management Plan and an energy efficiency operational Indicator for all ships. The major event was a three-day exhibition hosted on the lawns of the Caribbean Maritime Text Box: Institute. This event was very well attended by students from secondary and tertiary institutions all over the country, as well as professionals from different fields of study. There were seminars held daily that focused on the issues and impacts surrounding Climate Change as well as many colourful exhibits from many different organisations. The Natural History Museum of Jamaica from the Institute of Jamaica showcased many of our local flora and fauna some of which are endemic to Jamaica and are now endangered due to many factors, one of which is Climate Change. Their exhibit featured a variety of marine fauna such as sea turtles, corals, sponges and fishes and also some endemic species such as the Iguana, Coney and Yellow Snake and some plant specimens. The Port Royal Marine Lab showcased live marine fauna such as the Lionfish, starfishes, bivalves, etc. Other organisations that were also a part of the three-day exhibition were the Jamaica Fire Brigade, Coast Guard, Caribbean Maritime Institute, ODPEM and others. The weeks events continued with two industry seminars for Kingston and Montego Bay.

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Text Box: Caribbean Maritime Awareness Week 2009

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Asst. Education Officer teaching a student about  coral reefs.

A Section of  the NHMJ Exhibition at  Caribbean Awareness Week.

The IMO is responsible for the safety and security of international shipping and to prevent marine pollution by ships.

Caribbean Maritime Institute’s Awareness Week