Maritime

Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines has announced that early next year it will transfer six of its cruise ships to the Bahamas Registry, joining 13 other Royal Caribbean ships already registered in The Bahamas and the 9 ships of its sister brand, Celebrity Cruises. The six, Enchantment of the Seas, Splendour of the Seas, Majesty of the Seas, Monarch of the Seas, Rhapsody of the Seas, and Sovereign of the Seas, currently are registered under Norway. Richard Fain, RCCL’s Chairman and Chief Executive, notes that having the ships registered under one flag would result in a more streamlined management process for shipboard operations. He said, *“The competitive nature of the cruise industry is intense, and we must ensure our competitiveness throughout the business.”* The Bahamas, the world’s third largest “Flag State”, maintains over 1400 ships on its Ship Register, totalling in excess of 35 million gross tons. It also is the undisputed lead Flag for cruise ships. The Bahamas Maritime Authority has offices in Nassau, London and New York. The ongoing policy for the Authority in terms of sector development has been “growth with quality” — demonstrated by the number of high quality owners now using the Register. The success of the registry also is attributed to many of the factors that have positioned The Bahamas as a leading financial services centre: a progressive legislative and judicial system, political stability, neutral tax regime, and competitive fees. The Bahamas points to its lead as flag for cruise ships as a strong indication of the reputation it enjoys in international shipping. The BMA says owners of cruise ships are particularly sensitive to public perception, and a high quality managed register is integral to maintaining the nation’s profile in the market place.

Earlier this year, the Ministry of Transport and Bahamas Maritime Authority introduced a Bahamas Maritime Cadet Corps (BMCC) programme within the secondary schools in The Bahamas. Specifically, the BMCC aims to sensitise and prepare students in Grades 10-12 for careers in the maritime industry. Classes are held each Tuesday and Thursday, 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. at the C.R Walker High School, conducted by retired and active Royal Bahamas Defence Force Officers and Personnel. Currently, there are 117 students enrolled, representing 12 high schools. The curriculum includes navigation, seamanship, rules of the road, and vessel husbandry, with a mandatory attendance and completion by the 12th graders of a Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) programme, per IMO Convention requirements on maritime safety. Co-ordinator of the programme is Dudley Martinborough. He says the programme is essential to ensure that *”young men and women are prepared for employment as qualified ocean going seamen on vessels registered under the Bahamian Flag”*. The programme aims to upgrade the crew qualifications on The Bahamas’ domestic fleet as well. The Bahamas, the world’s third largest “Flag State”, maintains over 1400 ships on its Ship Register, totalling in excess of 35 million gross tons. The Bahamas Maritime Authority has offices in Nassau, London and New York. The ongoing policy for the Authority in terms of sector development has been “growth with quality” — demonstrated by the number of high quality owners now using the Register. The success of the registry also is attributed to many of the factors that have positioned The Bahamas as a leading financial services centre: a progressive legislative and judicial system, political stability, neutral tax regime, and competitive fees. The Maritime Cadet Programme is supported by the London-based Bahamas Shipowners Association. *(Note: The BMA will be participating in next week’s Posidonia International Shipping Exhibition in Piraeus, Greece. Posidonia is described as the largest commercial event in the shipping calendar, located at the heart of shipping)*

The Bahamas Maritime Authority, a Bahamian public corporation responsible for administering The Bahamas Shipping Register, is advertising for a Technical Assistant to be based in its London office. The Bahamas Shipping Register currently is the third largest open register in the world, with over 1400 ships, totalling in excess of 34 million gross tons. The Authority maintains offices in Nassau, London and New York, with plans for another office to open in Greece. The BMA operates an agency in Tokyo. Applicants for the position should be highly organised and self-sufficient, with a good level of computer literacy. A familiarity with the use of database systems would be an advantage. The successful applicant would be required to provide general administrative support for the Technical Department, and assist the professional senior technical staff on matters relating to: – Ship Inspections – Statutory Surveys – Port State Control – Casualty Investigations Applicants are invited to write, enclosing a current CV, to: The Director Bahamas Maritime Authority Gold Circle Building East Bay Street P.O. Box N4679 Nassau, Bahamas Closing date for receipt of applications is November 30, 2002. The Bahamas lays claim to having the fastest growing ship register amongst the world’s major flag states. The register comprises a wide variety of different types of ships, but is particularly strong in the passenger ship sector, and the Bahamas is credited with being the number one choice for the world’s leading cruise operators.

**Maritime Board Named** Prime Minister Perry G. Christie yesterday named the new Bahamas Maritime Authority Board members, charging them with responsibility for monitoring maritime activity and increasing the Bahamas Ship Registry. The Ship Registry is considered to be the third largest in the world, with over 1400 ships, totalling in excess of 34 million gross tons. The Authority maintains offices in Nassau, London and New York, with plans for another office to open in Greece. The BMA operates an agency in Tokyo. **Growth With Quality** Writing recently for an industry publication, J. Mervyn Jones, Director of The Bahamas Maritime Authority said, *”One of the reasons why The Bahamas is popular as a flag is that the ship registry is part of a wider appeal of The Bahamas as a major tourist attraction and financial centre. In each of these industries – tourism, finance, and shipping – the aim of the Bahamian Government is to focus on quality.”* The Director also maintains that the ongoing policy for the Authority has been “growth with quality” — demonstrated by the number of high quality owners now using the Register. In addition to these high standards, its success can be attributed to many of the factors which have positioned the country as a leading financial services centre: a progressive legislative and judicial system, political stability, neutral tax regime, competitive fees. The Bahamas lays claim to having the fastest growing ship register amongst the world’s major flag states. The register comprises a wide variety of different types of ships, but is particularly strong in the passenger ship sector, and the Bahamas is credited with being the number one choice for the world’s leading cruise operators. It also is well favored in the tanker sector, boasting within its ranks three of the 5 largest tankers in the world. Eduardo Gonzalez of Morgan & Morgan (London) writes, *”One of the undoubted reasons for the popularity of The Bahamas Ship Register is that the legislative and judicial systems in The Bahamas are closely modeled on that of the United Kingdom – and therefore familiar to most banks, lawyers, and ship owners – although with enough independence from it to assure the most flexible approach without compromising legal security.”* **Background** The Merchant Shipping Act, 1976 encouraged the use of The Bahamas registry by foreign ship owners, with ongoing important amendments improving this structure. In 1976, The Bahamas also joined the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and has since become a party to that institution’s principal conventions relating to safety of life at sea and protection of the marine environment. Since November 1999, it also has been a member of the IMO’s Governing Council, represented at this level by the Bahamas High Commissioner to the United Kingdom. The Bahamas Register of Ships was in its origins the Maritime Division of the Ministry of Transport and, therefore, an entity entirely under the supervision and management of the Government of The Bahamas. In 1994, the register was already the world’s fifth largest and it became clear that a more dedicated professional body was required by both users and the government in order to maintain the standards of quality achieved up to then in service and reputation. A review of the system was undertaken, which process culminated in the creation of The Bahamas Maritime Authority (BMA). The Bahamas Maritime Authority Act came into force in July 1995, allowing the management of the register to be conducted with greater flexibility than before, and on a more commercial basis. The Management Board, while almost completely autonomous, remains an arm of the Bahamas Government. The BMA is responsible for ship registrations; ship inspections; manning and the issuing of crew licenses; investigation of casualties; follow up to port state interventions; maritime policy issues; and finance and administration. The Chairman of the new Board is Anthony McKinney, with Peter Goulandris as Deputy Cairman, and other members including Pedro Rolle, William Bardelmeier, Dudley Martinborough, Jackson Ritchie and Gary Sawyer.

The Bahamas: Undisputed Lead Flag For Cruise Ships The Bahamas fleet reads like a *”Who’s Who”* of international shipping. Cruise operators include well-known names such as Disney, Crystal, Radisson, Carnival, Seabourn, Holland-America, and Silver Line — and now Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, one of the world’s leading cruise companies. Currently there are more than 1400 international ships, with over 30 million gross tons flying the Bahamian flag. Of these, 80 are cruise ships, 350 are tankers and 70 are container vessels. The growth of the Bahamas Ship Register has been phenomenal; in 1983 there were less than 100 ships of just one million gross tons. According to the lead article in the latest issue of “The Bahamas Flag”, the newsletter of the Bahamas Maritime Authority, owners of cruise ships are particularly sensitive to public perception. A high quality managed register is therefore integral to maintaining their profile in the market place. Whilst quality and service are key to the Bahamas Maritime Authority’s success, the wider appeal of The Bahamas as a major tourist attraction and financial center has enhanced the flag’s popularity. Quality is also the central focus of the Bahamian Government’s policies for tourism, finance and shipping. The Bahamas recently consolidated its cruise ship lead with Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines flagging eight of its vessels to the Bahamas Ship Register, confirming the BMA’s position as the number one choice for the world’s leading cruise ship operators. The vessels include three of the largest cruise vessels afloat, the Voyager Class *”Adventure of the Seas”*, *Explorer of the Seas”* and *”Voyager of the Seas”*. Each vessel is more than 1000 feet in length and has a gross tonnage of about 138,000 tons, a total passenger capacity of 3,838 and a crew of 1,181. Two more ships of this class are under construction in Turku, Finland. Nassau is now one of the most popular stops for cruise ships, not only because of its close proximity to Florida, but also because it is an ideal port for large ships. Freeport, the second port of The Bahamas, is rapidly developing as another popular cruise ship destination, with the added attraction of having excellent dry dock facilities that can handle the largest cruise ships in the world. In commenting on the recent decision to join the Bahamas Ship Register, Harri Kulovaara, Senior Vice President of Royal Caribbean, said *”We are very glad to have completed the reflagging of our international fleet. We researched and reviewed the various international registries very carefully. Our final decision was driven by the overall professionalism demonstrated by the Bahamian Registry. We were especially impressed by its commitment to the continuous safety-improvement process.”*

Last year saw an increase of 6% in shipping tonnage registered with the Bahamas Maritime Authority, with total gt now recorded at 32.5 million. Tankers account for 25% of ships flying the Bahamian flag, and cruise ships 12%. During 2001, the BMA finalised the computerization of the register, and introduced a new publication, *”The Complete Merchant Shipping Legislation of The Bahamas”.*

The Bahamas has been elected to a second two-year term on the Council of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), the United Nations (UN) agency for the safety of shipping and protection of the maritime environment. The Assembly, the IMO’s highest policy-making body headquartered in London, consists of160 member countries and meets once every two years. The Council is the principal advisory body of the IMO and consists of 32 countries that are elected every two years by the Assembly. The Bahamas, which has the third largest fleet of merchant ships in the world and is the third largest contributor to the funding of the IMO, played a very active part in all meetings, committee and working groups during its first term on the Council. These facilitate the IMO’s policy-making and standard-setting activities relating to safe economical sea transport and environmental protection. The Bahamas’ active involvement in maritime affairs was evidenced recently as well when it became one of the first countries to ratify Annex VI to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (the MARPOL Convention). Annex VI, which addresses greenhouse gases as a part of air pollution from ships, has an even wider importance for The Bahamas as it counters the emissions that are affecting global warming and sea-level rise. Basil O’Brien, The Bahamas High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, is also the country’s Permanent Representative at the IMO. The Bahamas Maritime Authority, which oversees ship registration, provides technical support to the Permanent Representative. IMO Council membership places The Bahamas in a strong and influential position in this international forum, and enables the country to continue to provide a leading role in the deliberations and negotiations of the Council. This further enhances the reputation of The Bahamas as a register of the highest quality.