Development aid to fund new tugboat
Japanese grant supports maritime safety and security
MAURITIUS: Japan has pledged a grant of more than $6,5 million under the Japan Economic Social Development Programme, for the acquisition of a tugboat for Mauritius to further support the country’s maritime domain.
A signing ceremony was attended by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade, Dhananjay Ramful, Junior Minister of Finance, Dhaneshwar Damry; the Junior Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade, Hambyrajen Narsinghen; the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Mauritius, Masahiro Kan in Port Louis last week.
The tugboat will be used for port operations in Port Louis Harbour, but will also be deployed to respond to emergency situations to provide towage services, maritime pollution response, firefighting and assistance to vessels in distress.
Minister Ramful noted that Mauritius remained vulnerable to the risks posed by shipping operations and that it was imperative for the country to take proactive and pre-emptive measures to respond to oil spills and safeguard coastal zones.
Ambassador Kan affirmed that the provision of the tugboat through the grant embodied the statement at the 8th TICAD, held in August 2022, where Japan would promote initiatives related to maritime security. He stated that as Ocean States, Mauritius and Japan understood each other’s needs for preventive and timely actions. “This tugboat would play a vital role in towing stranded vessels, and in responding effectively to various kinds of maritime incidents including oil spills, and marine fire, and protecting the environment,” he said.
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