Palau had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Peace Boat, a Japan-based international non-government organization, for the collaboration in the hosting of Our Oceans Conference on August 3-4, 2020.
Under the MOU signed by President Tommy Remengesau, Jr. and Peace Boat Co-founder and Director Tatsuya Yoshioko on July 16 in New York, Peace Boat had agreed to provide accommodation for the participants of the Our Ocean Conference 2020, provide meeting venues and spaces for official side events of the conference, particularly in facilitating youth engagement, and convening Youth Ambassadors for the Ocean Action Summit.
Peace Boat travels around the globe to conduct activities that promote peace, human rights, and sustainability through a passenger ship, Ocean Dream. It also holds a special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations (UN).
The Ocean Dream, according to the Peace Boat official website, has the capacity to hold a maximum of 1,200 passengers and has a 21 knots speed.
Palau, meanwhile, had also agreed to work with Peace Boat in convening Youth Ambassadors for Ocean Action Summit and supporting logistical coordination of accommodation and meeting facilities aboard the Peace Boat during the conference in Palau.
The MOU also stated that Palau should provide financial support to secure Peace Boat’s vessel during the conference including logistical and event support via its Our Ocean 2020 Planning Committee. (Rhealyn C. Pojas)