Capacity building for a sustainable shipping industry: a key ingredient in improving coastal and ocean and management

Shipping and ports are major factors in coastal and ocean development and have significant direct and indirect impacts on coasts and oceans. Transportation systems and particularly international shipping have always influenced coastal settlement and economic development activities. The emergence of issues, such as biodiversity protection, biosecurity and climate change, mandate a more integrated approach to dealing with ocean-based activities, such as shipping. However, the maritime industry—shipping and ports—is internally fragmented and both are isolated from the contemporary integrated coastal and ocean discussion and practice, despite their impact on coastal and ocean activity. This article argues that the maritime sector is a key factor in effective integrated marine ecosystem development and protection and should take a leadership role. However, there needs to be increased capacity to do so. Education and training relevant to sustainable development and integrated management practice needs to be widely and methodically available, particularly in the initial stages of Maritime Education and Training (MET) where professional values and practices are developed. Marine and maritime education should be integrated with a view to preparing people to work in an environment in which there is a wider range of actors and activities involved in matters relating to the impact of the shipping industry on coastal development and preservation. There needs to be education to encourage reflective thinking and human relations skills development for both on shore and seagoing personnel.