WOC, The Nautical Institute Launch Guide to MSP for 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.

WOC, November 13, 2013; Image: iStock