Experts from over 40 countries to attend European Maritime Day conference in Cork
An estimated 1,000 people will descend on Cork for the three-day event, with the conference workshops taking place in City Hall and adjoining venues. A free family-friendly festival will be held along the city quays on Friday and Saturday.
People working in the maritime sector will be travelling from China, Canada, Japan, Africa, Denmark, Croatia, Cyprus, Greece, France, and Germany to the event.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin is due to attend the conference, as will European Commissioner for Ocean and Fisheries, Costas Kadis, as well as Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law and Consumer Protection Commissioner, Michael McGrath.
Minister for Climate, Environment and Energy, Darragh O'Brien and Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Timmy Dooley are also scheduled to take part. The conference is organised by Cork City Council, the Government and the European Commission.
Sisters Saoirse Healy (aged 8) and Caoimhe Healy (aged 10) at last month's launch of the free family-friendly maritime celebration, 'European Maritime Days to Play' which will be held this weekend in Cork to mark the city hosting Europe's premier maritime conference. Picture: Clare Keogh
Cork City Council Chief Executive, Valerie O'Sullivan said: 'It is an honour for Cork City Council and the Government of Ireland to host European Maritime Day and to see the positive impact this conference is having on the city's hospitality and tourism sector.
"The importance of the maritime sector to Cork and the national economy is significant. Up to 37% of Ireland's marine companies and 40% of our blue bio-economy and seafood industry are based in the south of the country.'
She pointed out that the Naval Service is based at Haulbowline, the National Maritime College of Ireland, part of Munster Technological University, is located in Ringaskiddy and that the Port of Cork is one of Ireland's main commercial ports.
'From a tourism perspective, Cork Harbour is Ireland's top cruise destination with over 115,000 passengers visiting each year,' she added. It is estimated that more than €2m will be spent in Cork over the three days.
The workshops attract a number of highly topical issues and leading speakers. The discussion on the EU's response to maritime security involves top French, Italian, and Greek naval and coast guard officers.
A related workshop of protecting subsea infrastructure includes Camino Kavanagh, a visiting senior fellow of the Department of War Studies at King's College London and Lieutenant Commander Mike Brunicardi of the Irish Naval Service.
The European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex), the European Fisheries Control Agency (EFCA) and the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) will examine the EU Maritime Security Strategy.
The Irish Maritime Area Regulatory Authority (MARA), located in Wexford, will discuss the 'complex' area of maritime regulation and EU directives and hold a workshop on improving co-operation between maritime practitioners, bodies and regulators.
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