The Bahamas hosts the 29th meeting of the Caribbean Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control Committee

Pictured L-R: CPSCC Vice Chairman Joel Walton; BMA Board Director LaMarque Drew; BMA Chairman Ms. Jacqueline M. Simmons; CPSCC Secretary General Jodi Munn-Barrow, BMA CEO and Managing Director, Capt. Dwain Hutchinson and CPSCC Chairman Michel Amafo and CPSCC meeting delegates
Photos by Unseen Media

Taking place on Paradise Island, The Bahamas, the 29^th meeting of the Caribbean Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control Committee (CPSCC) was hosted by The Bahamas Government.  The 34 delegates representing 20 countries were welcomed by Ms. Jacqueline M. Simmons, Chairman of The Board of Directors of The Bahamas Maritime Authority (BMA), on the Government’s behalf.  The meeting, which is held annually, was led by CPSCC Chairman Michel Amafo and CPSCC Vice Chairman Joel Walton. 

In welcoming the delegates, both BMA Chairman Simmons and CPSCC Chairman Amafo recognised the opportunity for representatives from throughout the region to engage as they explored routes for collaboration to face the challenges of the future, principally the urgent need to address Greenhouse Gas Emissions. This was underpinned by the recent Hurricane Beryl, which impacted many of the states represented at the meeting.   

The CPSCC has been responsible for the development of a number of regional codes, which have reaped great benefits for maritime regionally.  These relate to technical standards, vessel operation and crew certification for non-IMO Convention ships trading in the Caribbean region including in The Bahamas.  The work that this Committee has undertaken has played a vital role in the elimination of substandard foreign ships operating within the Caribbean. 

Thanks to the stringent Port State Control ship inspection programme the CMoU operates, the Caribbean is able to ensure that foreign vessels entering its regional waters are compliant with the various international maritime conventions. 

Port state activities in The Bahamas are a collaborative effort involving the Bahamas Maritime Authority, Port Department and Royal Bahamas Defence Force whose representatives participated in the meeting discussions.