The material that introduces international cooperation in the field of maritime safety and security
The material introduces the history of international cooperation in the field of maritime safety and security from the past to the present.
JICA Yokohama emphasizes the implementation of various programs related to sea and the courses related to maritime safety and security are one of them. Previously there were no materials that introduced the history of Japan’s maritime safety and security. In addition, there were no public relations materials that could be used to introduce new technical cooperation and training courses or to recommend applications in this field to the overseas office staff and counterparts.
For these reasons, JICA Infrastructure Management Department, Transportation Group, Team 2, and JICA Yokohama, Training Program Division, created together the JICA-Net multimedia-based learning material, “History of international cooperation in the field of maritime safety and security”(YouTube, external link).
Various usage of the material
The material was made in Japanese and English versions. We intend the wide range of use for the material for training courses in the field of maritime safety and security, screening in various events, viewed by those who are interested in international cooperation for self-learning on YouTube, etc.
We also created the 2 digest versions, which are about 7 minutes long and narrow down the theme: “Important functions and roles of coast guard agencies(Digest A)”(YouTube, external link)
and “Aiming for multiplier synergies between technical and asset cooperation (Digest B)”(YouTube, external link).
They are perfect to for use in some situations where time is limited.
Specifically, we plan to use the material as below
- 1 . Use at the occasion of program orientation or briefing session of JICA’s Knowledge Co Creation Program (KCCP) for as an overview material for participants who participate Group and Region-Focused or Country-Focused Training (courses).
- 2 . Introduction to participants of programs related to “sea,” implementing in JICA Yokohama.
- 3 . To be used for the occasion of ex-participants reporting at their office and assist their colleagues understanding.
- 4 . To be used for the ex-participants’ following-up activities after returning from Japan.
- 5 . To be used for the occasion at local seminars in JICA technical cooperation.
- 6 . To be used as the public relation material for having well understanding of JICA’s activities to the counterparts or overseas diplomatic relation.
- 7 . For self-study and study meetings by JICA staff both in Japan and in overseas offices.
- 8 . For public relations by SNS tools such as X or and Facebook, also introduce on home website.
- 9 . Screening on monitors in the lobby of JICA Yokohama that can be seen by the general public.
Intending to use the material in various scenes as above, we created the material in order for the viewer to understand the background and the trend easily by introducing the overview of Japan’s cooperation for maritime safety and security. Moreover, it is expected that the material will serve as a starting point for the planning of new projects, for example, enabling staff from the coast guard agencies in ODA target countries to advance toward negotiation on new international cooperation in this field after watching the material.
Expanding from “Safety” to “Security,” to “Law Enforcement”
This material enables the viewers to understand the international cooperation in the field of maritime safety and security chronologically and concretely.
Especially, based on the world trend, it is designed to provide a clear visual understanding of how Japan has been involved for a long time in a wide variety of fields, which the coast guard agencies are responsible for.
Specifically, first of all, the material introduces the history of international cooperation in this field by using the keyword “Safety” from the late 1960s, a few years later since Japan’s international cooperation began, to the 1980s.
It explains the beginning of the international cooperation in this field in the 1960s through the cooperation of charts to maintain maritime traffic safety of the three coastal countries of the Straits of Malacca and Singapore, and also, introduces a human story of the contribution of JICA’s training program, which helped build relationships of trust with local people at a time when memories of World War II were still fresh.
The material explains easily with the video and images in the local site.
The spilled oil recovery was handled jointly by the Philippine Coast Guard and a Disaster Relief Team dispatched from Japan.
In the 1980s, in accordance with worldwide problems including maritime accidents such as the grounding of large-scale tankers and passenger boats, as well as seawater pollution problems due to the development of sea traffic, international cooperation in this field has expanded beyond the scope of technical cooperation and training courses. The material is devised to show this background easily.
Since about the 2000s, the previous international cooperation, which was represented by the keyword “Security”, expanded to the field of “The rule of law in the sea”. The material also explains the above process easily.
To think about the changing and expanding role of maritime safety and security together
We already used the material in training courses and projects, and viewers have commented: “It’s very easy to understand”, and” The material leads to the inclusive understanding of the international cooperation in the field of maritime safety and security”, etc.
As an example, the harbor master of Dumai Port in Sumatra, Indonesia, commented, “I sincerely appreciate Japan and JICA’s great contribution in the field of maritime safety and security. Your contribution, knowledge, and the spirit of cooperation play a really important part in the achievement of our common goal. I feel quite honored to protect sea safety together and build a more secure and sustainable future. I sincerely hope that we can continue to deepen this partnership for the benefit of both counties.”
Moreover, in the ex-participant activity follow-up survey, there was a voice from Marine Police First commander of Timor Leste, who is an ex-participant, “I could understand the operational situation of the various training course, in which I did not participate. I would like to let our staff to participate in such a various training course, aiming to strengthen the human resources of our organization.”
The list of examples using the material (2) (Timor Leste)
The list of examples using the material
(1) JICA Knowledge Co-Creation Programs “Hydrography for Charting and Disaster Management”
Date: December 2024
Content: Indonesian ex-participants and staff gathered and viewed the material. The material deepened the understanding of Japan’s aid cooperation in the field of maritime safety and security until now and led to future cooperation.
(2) JICA Knowledge Co-Creation Programs “Maritime Search and Rescue, Maritime Disaster Prevention, and Marine Environment Protection for Coast Guard Officials” follow-up survey
Date: Mid-December 2024
Content: JICA Yokohama’s Following Up team visited Timor Leste for discussing about the ex-participant activities of KCCP. The material was screened.
The general learning of chronological expansion of Japan’s international cooperation in the field of maritime safety and security deepened the understanding of the possibility of future cooperation and participation in the training course.
(3) Lunchtime screening in JICA
Date: February 2025
Content: Screening the material during the lunchtime study meeting on “History of international cooperation in the field of maritime safety and security” targeting JICA staff both in Japan and in overseas offices. The staff engaged to this material in Transportation and Traffic G2 of the Social Infrastructure Department and the Training Program Division of Yokohama Center explained the outline of the materials and the background of their creation. This promoted the further understanding of JICA staff regarding international cooperation in this field well.
(4) Sri Lanka Capacity Building Project for Spilled Oil Recovery of Maritime Disaster Prevention, and Marine Environment Protection
Date: February 2025
Content: The material was introduced to the staff of Kirinda, Sri Lanka Court Guard, by the JICA short-term expert. The viewers were ex-participants who had participated in the training in Japan to learn about Japan’s spilled oil recovery technology and its teaching methods, and instructors who taught spilled oil recovery technology to their colleagues locally.
At the same time, ex-participants introduced the material initiatively to staff members including the SLCG Secretary. The understanding of the cooperation in this field is advanced.
Training Program Division
JICA Yokohama
*The Material(s) mainly applied
History of international cooperation in the field of maritime safety and security
Japan's international cooperation in the field of maritime safety and security began in the late 1960s with efforts for maritime traffic safety in Southeast Asia. Afterwards, it has broadened to sea rescue and oil spill response. In recent years, the nature of cooperation has further expanded from the previous "safety" to "security" including maritime law enforcement and maintenance of maritime order based on international law.
This video material provides an insight into the history of international cooperation in the field of maritime safety and security.
- YouTube (external link)
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