SOMPU
Introduction
SOMPU is a sole UNION in this country has been created an exclusive purpose for integration all maritime professionals including fishing sector qualified groups in single maritime center activism combination on maritime professional’s empowerment and strengthen the Professional capacity in the county, protecting members rights so as to support their interests advancement in working with international organizations to improve standards and conditions in the local maritime Professionals.
Union Background
This SOMPU Union was established on July 18th 2019, by an attendant professional representatives from deferent groups in Maritime sector, such as Shipping, and Maritime Engineers Association, Masters and Mates group, pilotage organization, National Mariners Union, ports administrative including representative with privet shipping companies and other maritime community representatives with Senior Maritime officers/directories gathered at the Lido Seafood Hotel in LIDO BEACH, Abdul Aziz District, Mogadishu Somalia.
This conference was preceded by another meeting on 21st August 2018, that was invited to incorporate a former president of the Maritime and Fisheries Institute from 196‐1991, which was aimed to bring maritime professionals together from all fields of the maritime sectors, and to create a union representing maritime experts voices, and finally that conference was established an organization named Manyo and Mallay, which is now a membership of this Sompu Union.
Before the SOMPU formation, previously, there was an operational organization of pilots in the country’s ports providing services of navigating seagoing vessels to enter or leave seaports and to operate in Somali’s territory navigable water areas where maritime pilotage is compulsory, which similarly is membership of this Sompu Union.
Likewise, there an operational qualified masters and mates were groups serving both domestic and international ships with more than 32 years of extensive maritime experience in ocean & coastal navigation, various shipboard operations, several types of inspections and accident investigations, also joined to this SOMPU UNION formation.
An attendees agreed to bring all maritime professionals into single union, and finally approved to establish this union named Som Maritime Professional Union and in that moment, a number of members suggested on the table to pick up a provisional committee and at that moment 7 members were voted to be as provisional Executive Committee including president and vice president which are holding office until next General Convention.
The participants have much concentrated different scenarios on maritime issue and acknowledged that this union will facilitate and advise to the concerned administrations of completely work implementations gaps identified and management weaknesses in the maritime sectors public and privet institutions as well fishing authorities sector and port authorities the matters mostly impeded the development of economic, ocean going safety and security, maritime domain protection, complete maritime laws enforcement, shipping regulations, as well as maritime resources conservancy.
SOMPU Union, believes that there can be no sea ownership achieves to avail its waters prosperities or recognizes the importance of the maritime domain and its economic opportunities without recognize the importance roll of the professionals involvement in maritime functions and expertise the maters of marine resources and environment protections, and that was the most essence in creation to this union as to address all these issues and do something changes about on completely aforementioned matters.
And besides, that believes that this professional will help policing of state’s waters and ensuring the ability and competence to strengthen the economic benefits of the maritime resources and development of shipping and ports sectors and will help working with international organizations to improve standards and conditions in the global maritime community / global maritime family
UNION PURPOSE
The purpose of union is:
Establish partnerships with international and regional organizations, such as IMO, WMU, IMO‐IMLI and other government agencies, private companies and regional groups in the implementation of its purpose.
Husein DaCreate a national network for Maritime professionals from SOMPU and other organizations involved in nationally and internationally recognized Unions in the maritime sector.
MohamePersuade to other public institutions to recognize that the significant on the maritime professional’s role in the maritime maters and development of the ocean and shipping sector.
The purpose of union is not only targeting senior maritime professional’s gathering but aims to reach out and engage with students in maritime knowledge encouraging them to be part of SOMPU’s family.
Yusuf IsmPromote cooperation, friendship and understanding through the exchange of knowledge and the dissemination of information.
Undertake in accordance with its mission and role of professions and work occupations level, with gender balance to call to take part in actions to promoting women participation in maritime sector.
MAIN OBJECTIVES
The objectives of the SOMPU will be to:
To promote dialogue and exchange of ideas and experiences cooperation among its members, but also with the wider maritime community, government agencies and organizations in local and abroad engaged in the maritime sector.
To encourage members to develop ideas, implement projects and initiatives with a view to wider development of maritime sector in country and the active presence of members as maritime professionals in the global maritime community.
Promote co‐operation, friendship understanding and the dissemination of information through the exchange of knowledge.
Support and protection of the Character, status and interests of marine professionals in generally in the SOM/country.
To develop and support of plans, programmes and funds for the assistance and benefit of, or which may be calculated to advance or improve the status of needy professionals.
To promote and support initiatives for the employment and continuous development of maritime professionals.
To encourage and promote a high standard of maritime qualification, knowledge and competence.
To facilitate the creation and dissemination of leading maritime insights, information and ideas for SOMPU’s members.
Establishing and maintaining appropriate educational and professional standards of membership.
To establish strategic partnerships and relationships with the international maritime professional organizations and other recognized maritime communities with any maritime existing entities either locally or internationally.
To encourage and support the demographic and structural transformation of recent situations in the maritime professionals.
To be championed the interests of maritime professionals and actively contribute broader development and competitive success of SOMPU’s member.
To produce enough qualified on young generation in line with teaching maritime science as to lead the various oceans of maritime operations in the near future for managing ports and ships activities.
To provide a platform that allows all SOMPU’s members to build a broader understanding on maritime matters.
To increase the empowerment of maritime professionals through capacity building on the maritime sector functions.
To support and encourage the promotion of maritime professions ethics to fight against illegal exploration on the state waters and demonstrate a responsible concern for ocean preservation and safety security issue.
Establish a maritime base for young people and call for all professionals in the state to re‐engage the institutes and be teachers as to avail that the new generation by restoring early National Maritime and Fishery Institute to be continued by base of young professionals struggle with the activities at maritime sector and later alteration when senior professionals aged.
SOMPU’s Mission.
To promote the continuous development of country’s maritime professions through advocacy, education and awareness, strategic partnerships, networking, professional advisory services and the provision of maritime insights, best practice and experience exchange platforms.
SOMPU’s Vision.
To be a key foundation sustainable development in a single forum for sharing maritime professions ideas and enhanced their knowledge, skills, and capabilities through professional development in all levels including new young students male and female educated and trained to realize their potential and actively participate in an inclusive maritime functions locally or internationally.
SOMPU’s Core Values.
- Continuity and Sustainability
- Innovation Management and Leadership
- Responsibility and Respect
- Passion
- Honesty and Mutual Respect
- Transparency
- Accountability
- Integrity
SOMPU’s Structure
Sompu UNION has five membership groups: Maanyo and Malaay Group; the Ports Pilotage Group; Masters and Mates in Maritime Group; and the national mariners Group and also has individual members including fellow members from Shipping or maritime sector and actors associated directly with it, such as shipping companies, maritime communications, maritime services including legal services of law firms and lawyers, maritime education and training, organizations and Associations.
SOMPU’s Strategic Goals
Increase involvement of SOMPU in the State’s public and private institutions in maritime sector by creating a forum for Maritime professionals union as a cohesive potency for professions development.
To organize and increase awareness of the maritime sector in the next generation by working to get maritime themes added to the curriculum for high institutes in the region.
To have and maintain close working and special relationship with the National Maritime Authority, International Maritime Organization (IMO), Ports authority of country (PAC) and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).
To have and maintain special relationship with various international organizations involved in ports, shipping, tourism, trade and other related organizations.
Improve levels of competency by focusing on teaching and knowledge by strengthening educational and training opportunities in the State’s federal region modernization in the events of maritime and ports sectors.
Explain public and private institutions and other entities, the genesis of the SOMPU UNION as to understand and recognize the contributions it makes on the managerial performance functions in the maritime sector institutions.
Function of Governing Board
The President, Secretary, and the Treasurer are office bearers of the union and the governing board consists of 7 members. They have the required expertise and knowledge, and in accordance with the Sompu constitution, the Board of Governance called Executive Committee which decides the major issues and the decisions are ratified by Committee headed by a Chairman and consists of Vice‐Chairman, General secretary, secretary, and the treasurer.
SOMPU’s Annual Meeting
SOMPU’s Annual General Meeting is the highest decision‐making period and takes place once a year. As well as addressing constitutional, organizational and financial matters, The Executive Committee of SOMPU is the governing body of the Assembly. It is elected at the Annual General Meeting and the Executive Committee ensures that the work program and policies of the assembly are implemented.
Besides this, any decisions and acts taken by the Executive Committee are solely based on the best decision and interests of SOMPU in line with its vision and objectives and shall be regarded as the decisions and acts of union.
SOMPU Joining Member
An individual may apply to join the Union. Upon becoming a member, the individual has a voice in all the affairs of the Union, as well as the right to vote in all Union elections and after a period of time as specified in the SOMPU Constitution.