DGRM participated, on April 21, in the EU-US Emerging Leaders Visitors Program – Blue Economy - organized by the European Union with the Member States, with the aim of providing American citizens, up to 40 years of age, with visas as possible future leaders in their fields, a dedicated and close presentation of the work of the EU, its Member States and projects developed in partnership.
In a session that took place at Escola Superior Náutica Infante D. Henrique, the DGRM was represented by the Deputy Director General, Ricardo Segurado, who addressed the issue of the link between Maritime Administration and the Blue Economy in Portugal.
The role of regulation, control and inspection was highlighted, as Maritime Administration, National Maritime Traffic Control Authority, Competent Authority for the Protection of Maritime Transport and Ports and National Fisheries Authority and entity with competences for the Planning of the National Maritime Space : responsible for drawing up the Maritime Spatial Planning Situation Plan and for issuing titles for the private use of maritime space (TUPEM).

He emphasized the activities of the Maritime Administration (AM) as a pillar of the Blue economy, highlighting:

• the approval of shipbuilding projects, in compliance with international and community rules, ensuring that ships are built sustainably. This AM activity contributes to more sustainable shipbuilding;
• inspections and certification of ships, which contribute to ensuring compliance with requirements, namely the control of emissions of atmospheric pollutants, such as sulfur and nitrogen oxides, and also to ensure that waste and ballast water are not discharged at sea;
• the certification of seafarers, another competence that contributes to the increase in blue employment and consequently to an increase in the blue economy;
• the issuance of licenses for recreational navigators, already carried out in a dematerialized way, contributing to decarbonisation in line with the blue economy concept;
• the role of the DGRM in international forums, in particular the committees of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), ensuring that the standards adopted contribute to the sustainability of maritime transport.

He also highlighted DGRM's digitization strategy, in various instruments, and which will bring together all the different sources of information, in order to guarantee the safety and protection of maritime transport and ports. From shipbuilding activities, technical characterization for registration, certification of vessels, survey and inspection, as well as traffic control and authorizations and certificates inherent to seafarers.
In this regard, the services provided, resulting from its competences, are available at the Electronic Balcão do Mar (BMar), being processed electronically, in a completely dematerialized way. As a result of these services, authorizations, licenses and certificates for vessels and seafarers are issued in electronic format, digitally signed - with a guarantee of their authenticity, and verifiable online at PortugueseFlagControl.pt - where the validity of the documents can be verified.
The data generated by the services feed the entire sea value chain, from the beginning – construction, to the fulfillment of other national and international reporting obligations, namely with EMSA and other entities.
Finally, it presented the DGRM's various areas of activity and competences and its direct contribution to the growth of the blue economy.