- Port authorities and emergency responders from across the Indo-Pacific are participating in European-led training on ship safety.
- Western Australia's Department of Fire and Emergency Service is hosting the training as part of the Global Port Safety Project.
- The Global Port Safety Project is implemented by Expertise France and funded by the EU and the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to build capabilities in port safety management and incident management.
Ports across the Indo-Pacific are set to benefit from a major new European funded initiative which will decarbonise the maritime sector and enhance crisis response capacity.
As part of the Global Ports Safety project, a 10-day professional training program for port specialists and emergency responders on marine firefighting is underway in Fremantle from 7th-17th October, in partnership with by the Department of Fire and Emergency Service, Western Australia.
Australian and French trainers and twenty-two trainees from the Indo Pacific – eight from Australia, and fourteen from south and Southeast Asia are participating. Field exercises and drills are taking place within the Fremantle Port area and the Naval Base where trainees are learning how to handle any kind of fire on ships.
The Global Port Safety (GPS) project, delivered by Expertise France with €6 million in EU funding and €720,000 from French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is designed to build capabilities in two key areas: safety management and incident management. The GPS Project targets 12 strategic ports in South and Southeast Asia, and delivers a wide range of activities, including Training-of-Trainers programs for emergency preparedness and response.
EU Ambassador to Australia Gabriele Visentin said: "The Indo-Pacific region matters to the EU. By teaming up and training together, the EU, France, Australia and Indo-Pacific partners will be ready to face shared challenges in managing emergencies."
Jean-Michel Dumaz, GPS Project Director, said: "This training brings together Australia and its Indian Ocean neighbours to strengthen their capacity to respond to maritime incidents. It reflects the GPS project's commitment to enhancing regional resilience".
The collaboration between the EU, France, and Indo-Pacific countries fosters cooperation and partnership and creates a safer and more sustainable maritime environment that benefits global trade and the communities it serves.
Background
The GPS project addresses two central priorities for the maritime sector:
- Decarbonisation of maritime transport while ensuring safe operations.
- Strengthening preparedness and crisis response for incidents involving dangerous goods and hazardous materials.
The project builds long-term resilience by promoting international standards, cooperation, and innovation across ports in Asia and the Pacific.
