The Disaster-Resilient Boat-building Symposium aims to enhance the capacity of Barbados and the Caribbean region to design and construct boats that are durable, disaster-resistant, sustainable, and suited to local environmental conditions. There is a strong interest from partners and stakeholders to learn more about resilient boat-building techniques and technologies that are emerging and modern that can be adapted to the Barbados context. The event offers a unique opportunity for knowledge exchange and learning about the historical and cultural importance of boatbuilding in Barbados.

Objectives:

• Coordinate opportunities for knowledge exchange for local Barbadian boatbuilders and academic institutions, including the Samuel Jackman Prescod Institute of Technology.
• Facilitate solution-based panel discussions around innovation and technology challenges to disaster-resistant boatbuilding.
• Provide opportunities for participants to engage in live demonstrations (boatbuilding models) at interactive workshops, exhibits and on-site boatyard and fishing locations across Barbados. 
• Host networking opportunities for participants and wider sector actors. 

The event is hosted by UNDP in collaboration with the Barbados Fisheries Division and the Samuel Jackman Prescod Institute for Technology, with the generous support of the Government of Japan through the Barbados Coastal Fisheries Resilience Project (BCFR). The project supports Barbados’ recovery from the impact of Hurricane Beryl while building long-term resilience in the fisheries sector. By strengthening infrastructure, providing training and equipment to fishing sector stakeholders, the BCFR project aims to protect coastal livelihoods, enhance food security, and contribute to sustainable blue economy development.

At the closing of the Symposium, participants will have a deeper understanding of the most modern techniques and technologies for building disaster-resilient boats, including innovations in materials, design, and construction practices in the global market that can be adapted to the Caribbean and more specifically the Barbadian context.