Spain presents its Maritime Strategy at the Caribe Azul Forum

Held in Cartagena de Indias and dedicated to the sustainability of the Caribbean Sea, the Director General of the Marine Merchant took part in the thematic panel “Blue Sea and Green Port,” focused on strategic issues related to port management, sustainability, innovation, climate change adaptation and regulatory coordination challenges, with the aim of identifying shared opportunities and strengthening transatlantic collaboration in the sector.

In her presentation, Ana Núñez emphasized that the objectives of the Strategy are to contribute to the energy transition of the maritime sector, promote innovation and technological development, establish a competitive flag and fleets, advance the social dimension of maritime transport to increase its potential for job creation, develop a competitive and sustainable port system, provide a specific framework for recreational boating, and build a more agile and efficient maritime administration. Ultimately, the goal is to drive Spain’s maritime sector by harnessing opportunities for the economy, competitiveness, and employment.

At the forum, the Director General of the Merchant Navy also advocated for creating synergies, in this case with institutional representatives from Caribbean countries, to enable the adoption of common measures in maritime transport, decarbonization, and global maritime sustainability.

In this regard, Núñez met with Colombia’s Director General of Maritime Affairs, Hermann A. León, to strengthen, among other matters, the signing of a mutual recognition agreement for seafarers’ certificates, allowing sailors to work interchangeably on Spanish- or Colombian-flagged vessels once they have passed the required training assessments, in accordance with Regulation I/10 of the amended STCW ’78 Convention.

Furthermore, Núñez expressed regret over the decision adopted last week by the IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC), which postponed for one year the vote on approving the Net-Zero panel. She stated that Spain will continue working to ensure the approval of the amendments and the implementation of greenhouse gas reduction measures at the international level, beyond the EU, adding that this Caribbean Sea forum provides a positive context to strengthen dialogue and move toward consensus.