World Maritime Heritage Congress to Analyse Threats and Opportunities in the Arctic
Arctic no longer protected by its remoteness; exposed to human influences
SINGAPORE, 31 January 2019 –For most of its history, the Arctic has been protected by its remoteness and inaccessibility. Today, however, very few areas are truly removed
from the influences of human activities. Climate change has made the Arctic and its resources more accessible than ever before in recorded human history. This isolation has also led to an Arctic ecosystem that is less resilient and more susceptible to disturbance than most ecosystems in other parts of the world. Similarly, the peoples of the Arctic, who have adapted well to a harsh Arctic environment, are experiencing profound changes at an unprecedented rate, testing the limits of their capacity to adapt.
The increasing accessibility of the Arctic is also changing the geo-political landscape, driven by the increasing economic feasibility of exploiting the Arctic’s valuable natural resources through advances in technology, as well as the expansion of the navigable time period due to the reduction in sea ice. This has led to potentially divisive assertions of sovereignty being made by Arctic countries both through the development of domestic policy and law, and through the implementation of international agreements to bolster claims of national ownership over these resources. There is the emergence of the strong voice of the Indigenous peoples, expecting to play a far greater role in determining the future of this region, to share in the benefits of exploiting the natural resources while preserving their cultural heritage, traditions, and life ways.
These aspects of Circumpolar Navigation and Arctic Governance will be discussed in several sessions at the Inaugural World Congress on Maritime Heritage being held from 13 to 15 March 2019 at Resorts World Sentosa in Singapore. Co-organised by the Consortium for International Maritime Heritage (CIMH) and Resorts World Sentosa, the Congress will also address the current state of the shipping industry, examine the sector’s past influence on global trade and cultural influences as featured in the world’s maritime museums, illuminate signature undersea archeological and exploration activities, and connect these communities to provide a window into the future.
“Given that the Arctic is undergoing the largest environmental state change on the planet, and represents a new channel for marine transport, it is urgent that the international community agree upon new codes of conduct,” observed Terry Garcia, Chairman of the CIMH. The rules that have governed behavior in the Arctic were created for a different time and place and are no longer adequate to ensure the region’s political, economic and environmental stability.
Other topics being covered in the conference include how the ocean is a pathway to a sustainable future, cultural diversity, and governance. Additional features include “Why we must explore the past to navigate the future”, undersea commerce, tourism and maritime heritage in the global context, and regional breakout opportunities.
The Congress is being jointly organised by the Consortium for International Maritime Heritage and Resorts World Sentosa with support from the IMO, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), International Congress of Maritime Museums (ICMM), Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), and North American Marine Environment Protection Association (NAMEPA).
Resorts World Sentosa is also official venue host for the three-day event which will include a programme held at the revamped Maritime Experiential Museum, the only one of its kind in Singapore dedicated to the exploration of the iconic Maritime Silk Route. Housing a total of 15 immersive galleries, the attraction holds a combination of state-of-the-art visual projections and multimedia shows. Highlights include the Jewel of Muscat, an Arabian ship which made a tumultuous 138-day voyage from Oman to Singapore in 2010 using ancient navigational methods with a crew of 15, and the Typhoon Theater which simulates a sinking ship in a treacherous storm.
Registration for the Congress is now open. For more information on the programme and invited speakers, visit the official website of World Congress on Maritime Heritage 2019 (wcmh2019.com).
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MEDIA CONTACT
Carleen Lyden Walker | +203 255 4686 | c.walker@morganmarketcomm.com
About the Organisers:
ABOUT RESORTS WORLD SENTOSA
Resorts World Sentosa (RWS), Asia’s premium lifestyle destination resort, is located on Singapore’s resort island of Sentosa. Spanning 49 hectares, RWS is home to world-class attractions including Universal Studios Singapore, S.E.A. Aquarium, the Maritime Experiential Museum, Dolphin Island and Adventure Cove Waterpark. Complementing the adventure and adrenaline of its theme parks and attractions are six unique luxury hotels, the world-class Resorts World Convention Centre, a casino and the Asian flagship of a world-renowned destination spa. RWS offers award-winning dining experiences and exciting cuisine from around the world across its many renowned celebrity chef restaurants, establishing itself as a key player in Singapore’s vibrant and diverse dining scene and a leading gourmet destination in Asia for epicureans. The integrated resort also offers world-class entertainment, from original resident productions to concerts and public shows such as Crane Dance and Lake of Dreams. RWS has been named “Best Integrated Resort” since 2011 for eight consecutive years at the TTG Travel Awards which recognises the best of Asia-Pacific’s travel industry.
RWS is wholly owned by Genting Singapore, a company of the Genting Group. For more information, please visit www.rwsentosa.com.
ABOUT THE CONSORTIUM FOR INTERNATIONAL MARITIME HERITAGE
The Consortium of International Maritime Heritage (CIMH) is a non-profit organisation formed with the purpose of raising public awareness of our connection to the ocean through understanding our maritime heritage. The goal is to develop new--and enhance existing-- mechanisms to connect the public with its maritime roots. The Consortium is dedicated to developing and supporting maritime heritage programming that can serve as focal points for a wide array of constituent groups to share culture values and experiences that shed light on how we are interconnected by the world’s oceans. Rediscovering the past through our shared maritime heritage allows us to collectively better navigate a sustainable future. Maritime heritage is the history of human involvement with the ocean and coastal lands and waters. It includes the history of ships, seafaring, marine transportation, navies, ports and communities, immigration, tourism, traditional maritime practices and trades, fishing, the marine environment, lighthouses, submerged cultural resources, museums and educational organizations, the arts, literature, law and history of human involvement with the sea. As a new organization the Consortium is currently focusing on it’s first effort, the inaugural World Congress on Maritime Heritage 2019.
For more information, please visit www.cimheritage.org.
Genting Group. For more information, please visit www.rwsentosa.com.
