New regulations incorporating the regional Caribbean Cargo Shipping and the Small Commercial Vessels Codes are slated for implementation by year’s end, Capt. Dwain E. Hutchinson said.
The Master Mariner and Deputy Director of the Bahamas Maritime Authority based in London, England spoke at the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Labour’s small boat safety seminar on Thursday at BASRA headquarters.
The Fox Hillian encouraged youngsters to pursue a career in the maritime industry.
"The fact that I am here today is obviously evidence that anyone can do it," he said.
A wide cross-section of representatives from the maritime industry heard presentations on ‘The legal aspects of boating safety’; ‘Safe manning’; ‘Search and rescue’; and, ‘Standards of training’.
"We have an excellent team in Nassau and in London and together we are doing everything we can to make sure that the Bahamas stays on the map as a global presence," said Capt Hutchinson.
Based in London, England, he is in charge of a team responsible for the inspection of all the Bahamas’ internationally registered fleet, most of them ranging from over 500 gross tons. The Bahamas has the world’s third largest ship register.
As much of the standards on board ships are determined by international regulations, a part of Capt Hutchinson’s remit is participating in discussions that impact Bahamian registered ships and others.
"When those other ships come to The Bahamas," he said, "we get to inspect them against international standards just like Bahamian ships when they go to other ports. They are inspected against international standards.
"We are very conscious of The Bahamas being the third largest registry in the world, ensuring that all our ships are maintained to that standard at all times."
Capt Hutchinson also co-ordinates activities in the Caribbean. Shipping represents over 90 per cent of all world trade – an indication of its importance to archipelagic nations like the Bahamas.
"The world in terms of inspection is very small," he noted. "Countries have formed themselves into regional bodies to check ships coming into their areas."
In order to inspect ships similar to those that ply Bahamian waters, the Caribbean through the International Maritime Organization has developed the Caribbean Cargo Ships Safety Code and the Small Commercial Vessels Code for ships trading in the Caribbean region, he explained.
"That is going to impact a lot on small ships operating in the Bahamas," said Capt Hutchinson. "We are looking at applying to our own ships the same standards which we use for small ships of other countries coming into the Bahamas.
"Once that comes into effect the Port Department in conjunction with the Bahamas Maritime Authority will be pushing the inspection regime that we are now utilizing for the international ships on to the smaller ships. Safety is the key here.
"If in introducing these new requirements anyone feels we are being too onerous, our main aim is safety," said Capt Hutchinson. "All the rules and regulations and guidelines we will be bringing out will be geared towards ensuring safety for all and everything concerned."
He admitted that private vessels are a challenge. The Bahamas is "drawing a lot from the experiences gained by others who went through the same process that we will no doubt go through once we bring in these new codes," he said.
