The Flag - 25th Anniversary Commemorative Edition

Special Edition

25 YEARS of quality registration

03 14

A nation with a history steeped in the ocean Spotlight on bespoke registration services

05 21

25 years of growth and dedication to quality Women from The Bahamas share their maritime stories

Inside Issue 36 The Bahamas’ Ministers and BMA Board reflect on the past 12 months The fight against COVID-19 recognising the global efforts of the shipping industry The BMA’s ongoing commitment to marine sustainability Welcoming the latest ships to The Bahamas Register

Our Register at a glance +1472

Bahamas Registered Vessels

White-list & Qualship 21

Flag Status

World’s best operate our ships

New Ships

are a feature of our Register

High Quality Service

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More than +1472 vessels representing some +64 million gross tons

Our safety record is among the very best of the open registers and better than many national flags

Our ships are operated by the world’s best known shipping companies

Newly built ships feature significantly on our register.

We pride ourselves on the quality of service to our owners.

Editors Foreword

The BMA is delighted to bring you a special commemorative edition of The Flag newsletter The BMA is delighted to bring you a special commemorative edition of The Flag newsletter which marks the 25th anniversary year of The BMA and brings you the latest news and updates from The Registry along with contributions from our global partners.

We continue to play a leading role in the wellbeing of our industry through our membership of maritime bodies including the IMO and our involvement in projects such as Eyesea. The Flag gives you the opportunity to find out more about our activities on behalf of the maritime sector.

In this special edition you will find messages recognising this significant milestone from The Prime Minister, Most Hon Dr Hubert Minnis, Minister, Senator Hon Dion Foulkes, BMA Chair, Ambassador J. Denise Lewis-Johnson, Deputy Chair, Peter John Goulandris and John Adams, Chairman of The Bahamas Shipowners Association. BMA Managing Director and CEO, Captain Dwain Hutchinson, also outlines his vision for the future in a post COVID-19 world.

In this edition we interview Carolyn Moree, Head of The Registration department, who explains exactly what is involved when we register a new ship. This is the first in a series of in-depth articles looking into the workings of the various BMA departments.

To celebrate our 25th Anniversary, we recall the registry’s history - a look at the timeline of activities undertaken

by The BMA will demonstrate how it has grown in size and influence.

The newsletter has been updated to reflect the vibrant new look unveiled in the registry’s recent re-brand and we are also introducing a dynamic online version designed to provide fascinating insights into one of the world’s top Flags in an easily accessible and user-friendly format.

The Flag is an opportunity to introduce our recently appointed team members, demonstrating our continued commitment to diversity and growth, and welcome some of our newly registered vessels.

We hope you enjoy reading this celebratory edition of The Flag and we welcome your feedback.

.

Charlotte Ward Editor

Share your thoughts with our marketing team marketing@bahamasmaritime.com

Bahamas’ Ministers and BMA Board reflect on the past 12 months 25 Years of Service The Bahamas thanks The BMA On behalf of the Government and people of The Bahamas it is with pleasure that I extend warm congratulations to The Bahamas Maritime Authority (BMA) on its 25th Anniversary. The BMA has a distinguished history of professionalism, a history of growth and of accomplishment.

Prime Minister Most Hon. Dr Hubert Minnis

Our people and our Bahamas have been tested. We experienced the ferocity and destruction of an unprecedented hurricane.

We are fighting to emerge stronger from the scourge of a global pandemic.

next generation of maritime challenges.

We must also ensure that shipping remains an increasingly positive force -in The Bahamas and worldwide - for the international economy and for the marine environment.

Throughout, our vision has been to restore the safety and the well-being of our people, ensuring that every Bahamian, every family, every child, has the opportunity for advancement, that every generation can enjoy a better life with greater opportunities and ownership.

I commend BMA Chairman Denise LewisJohnson for her service during the pandemic.

She and her small team, supported by The BMA and the Port Department, have along with many others, helped keep Bahamians safe.

The BMA has been an influence for the good.

Each year it contributes to the national good.

Each year it provides an important focal point for the maritime sector in our country, as well as leadership in the maritime sector around the world.

We thank our ship owners for their support of our Ship Registry. We pledge to them that our commitment to service is at every level of government.

The maritime sector is the third largest contributor to our economy. We will continue to build on this. We will utilize The BMA’s expertise and its international partnerships to help meet the

This dynamic team has helped The Bahamas to serve our partners in the cruise industry in this hour of need, providing shelter to their ships in these most challenging of times.

I thank the talent of The BMA, here at home and around the globe, for their dedication and service. I wish the next 25 years to mark further success for The BMA. The Bahamas Maritime Authority will continue to support and enhance our industry partnerships.

It will also continue to navigate and promote a maritime future emblematic of our leading role in maritime regulation and supportive of the people of our wonderful Commonwealth.

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Bahamas’ Ministers and BMA Board reflect on the past 12 months

The Bahamas’ national approach to COVID-19 The COVID-19 pandemic has had - and continues to have - major implications for the overall economy and all sectors of The Bahamas, but the Government’s primary responsibility and priority remains the health and wellbeing of the Bahamian population, residents, citizens and visitors alike.

Minister Senator Hon. Dion Foulkes

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For the first time in the country’s history, a State of Emergency was imposed to control and effectively manage the spread of COVID-19, with restrictions imposed on business operations and the movement of goods.

call for member states to designate seafarers as key workers. The Bahamas was able, and continues, to offer assistance to ships seeking to repatriate seafarers and facilitate Medical Services for crew on ships in The Bahamas.

I am pleased to report that The Bahamas Maritime Authority Business Continuity Plan that introduced equipment and resources to enable working and undertaking tasks remotely has allowed The BMA to provide continuous service to its ship-owners.

Drawing from the experience and guidance of The BMA, Port Department, Office of the Chief Medical Officer and other agencies, The Bahamas developed appropriate protocols to enable passenger ships of all flags to safely shelter in Bahamas territorial waters during the global lockdown. The BMA has provided guidance through its website and informative documents to all stakeholders on a regular basis and has drawn from industry experiences to update guidelines as appropriate. It is noteworthy that at the peak of the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020, over 70 passenger ships sheltered in Bahamian waters and engaged in the process of repatriating over 50,000 Seafarers.

At a regional level, The Bahamas government continues to collaborate and work with our Caribbean neighbours on a maritime regional framework for recovery and sustainability post COVID-19. The Bahamas remains committed to fulfilling its obligations as an IMO member state and is determined to be a proactive participant in global recovery efforts.

The Bahamas, however, as an Archipelago with limited natural resources, is reliant on the Maritime Sector (our third largest industry) to maintain the crucial supply of food, goods and fuel to sustain our population.

As a result, the necessary closure of the Bahamian borders to our number one industry - tourism - and the restriction of movements in and between islands was not extended to the Cargo and Tanker Shipping Sector because of the invaluable nature of shipping to our islands’ sustainability during this challenging period.

The Bahamas, as a port and coastal state, wholeheartedly supported the efforts of the SecretaryGeneral of the IMO, along with the Secretary-General of the United Nations and its Agencies, including the International Labour Organisation, in its call to IMO member states to expedite crew changeover and enable the provision of medical care for sick and injured crew.

The Bahamas further endorsed the IMO

At the broader international level, The BMA has worked with the IMO, ship-owners, its recognised organisation and other strategic stakeholders to implement measures such as acceptance of remote inspections, extension of seafarers' document and assistance in repatriation efforts to enable Bahamas flagged ships to continue to comply with the international requirements and avoid any delays in operation.

The people of The Bahamas can be proud of the support given to shipping and seafarers throughout the pandemic.

Bahamas’ Ministers and BMA Board reflect on the past 12 months

25 Years, The Chairman Reports In Support of Progress

We have just closed the 25th Year of The Bahamas Maritime Authority (BMA) - an important milestone and a time to look back, and most of all to look forward. I am honoured to Chair The BMA on this historic 25th Anniversary, and equally proud of our service - service to our Nation and to the People of The Bahamas, service to our shipowners and stakeholders, and service to the maritime industry.

BMA Chair Ambassador J. Denise Lewis-Johnson

The Bahamas has suffered greatly in recent years, first with the utter devastation caused by Hurricane Dorian, and soon after with the COVID-19 pandemic that continues to ravage the world. Our shipowners have been wonderfully supportive of The Bahamas, contributing in numerous ways to hurricane relief.

And The Bahamas has given back to the maritime industry by offering long-term shelter to cruise ships over the many long months of the pandemic shutdown. With the backing of The BMA and the Port Department, I have been privileged to play a role in managing the sheltering programme, and maritime movement in The Bahamas over these past months. It has been an unexpected call to action that The BMA has answered without hesitation.

Since its establishment in July 1995, The BMA has overseen the remarkable progress of The Bahamas Flag fleet to one of the world’s largest, in the top10 with 64 million gross tons on our Anniversary date. We are the world’s largest Flag for passenger ships, and one of the top flags for the LNG and offshore sectors. This speaks to the quality of our staff and service, to our organization and to our expertise. The world’s major shipowners have entrusted the world’s most sophisticated ships to our Registry, and we are proud to service these ships along with the hundreds of merchant vessels and specialty vessels that have chosen to flag with us.

We have long embraced quality as a significant asset. Our shipowner partners have set successive record-low detention rates in port-states the world over. And the corresponding reputation of The Bahamas as a quality Flag translates into an important advantage for our owners.

But a successful past is but a solid foundation for an even better future. We must continue to underpin progress, to invest in our people, in our systems and in our relationships. We must continue to show a capacity, day-in and dayout, to add value for the people of The Bahamas, and to add value for our stakeholders.

The BMA continues to play a leadership role at the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) where The Bahamas has served as Council member continuously since 1999, and at the International Labour Organisation (ILO) where The Bahamas was one of the first countries to ratify the Maritime Labour Convention 2006. We have been at the forefront of common sense regulatory solutions that support maritime safety and environmental responsibility.

Today, the regulatory challenges are greater than ever, and we will continue to work with all of our stakeholders to support the technical innovation that will enable the achievement of international goals.

The BMA has based itself on fostering dialogue, and on a strategic partnership with our stakeholders, and I am pleased with our continued close collaboration with our shipowners, individually, and collectively through the Bahamas Shipowners Association (BSA). We will continue to work with the BSA and with other industry groups, sharing our experience to achieve the effective formulation, implementation and compliance with regulatory requirements.

Shipping will progress only so far as the people who man, operate, repair, manage service and regulate ships, can work together to achieve common goals.

We pledge to continue to play a constructive role in this regard. We will continue to support capacitybuilding at home and the promotion of training and employment in the maritime sector, through The Bahamas Maritime Cadet Corps and other initiatives that have over the years been so graciously supported by the BSA and by our shipowners. And as The BMA’s first female Chair, I am pleased that our ongoing support of women in shipping will be to the significant benefit of all concerned.

In commemorating this 25th Anniversary of The BMA, I thank our people, supporting our efforts from BMA offices all over the world, our Board, and all of our industry partners. With your continued help, the way forward will continue to be a productive one.

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A Look Back at 25 Years of The BMA

Peter John Goulandris’ name has been synonymous with The Bahamas Maritime Authority since it was established in 1995. He not only played a vital role in the foundation of the Authority but has held the position of Deputy Chair from the very beginning, so it seems timely to feature an interview with him in this commemorative issue of The Flag.

1995

1996

the achievements

The Bahamas

The BMA joins

qualified seafarer, Dwain Hutchinson,

within The Bahamas

Maritime Authority

Caribbean

joins The BMA as a part of the Authority’s

Maritime Authority

is founded in July

Memorandum of

commitment and long-term objective

understanding (CMOU)

of national capacity building in the

CELEBRATING

A look back at some of

YEARS

1995 2020

The first Bahamian internationally

maritime field. Today Captain. Hutchinson

6

is Managing Director and CEO of The Bahamas Maritime Authority.

A Look Back at 25 Years of The BMA

An interview with Deputy Chair, Peter John Goulandris Q. The BMA is this year celebrating its 25th Anniversary which means that you have been Deputy Chair for 25 years. What do you consider have been The BMA’s greatest achievements during that period?

Deputy Chair Peter John Goulandris

I am very proud of the fact that The BMA has become a significant centre of competence - one that sets very high standards for itself.

Thanks to the quality of its people, and the quality of its shipowners, The BMA is respected across the world. I am proud of the great work we do at the IMO, where we play a pro-active role in moving important issues forward, and where we attempt to bring diverse nations and interests together wherever possible. Above all, I’m very proud of the people of The BMA - there’s genuine expertise there, and great good will.

Our motto is ’Progress, Honour, Service’, and we try to honour that every day.

We bring to the table a lot that can make our shipowners’ businesses better and safer

We have come a long way, but we hold ourselves to a standard of continuous improvement. We remain conscious of where we have to do better; we are always building, always evolving.

Q. Where do you hope to see The BMA in five years’ time?

In five years, I would hope that The BMA would be continuing to grow, to cultivate new knowledge and provide new and valuable services. On the environmental

side for example, we are entering an era of great stress in terms of controlling emissions and protecting the environment. For the maritime industry to meet its targets, we need new technologies. So the industry is embarking on efforts which will be revolutionary rather than evolutionary.

And I would hope and expect that The BMA will be involved in these efforts as a leader and shaper of the future.

I would also hope to see our fleet grow over time. It has developed in a very healthy way but there are still parts of the world in which The BMA is underrepresented. So we have plenty of room to expand without compromising our quality, and we are planning to achieve that.

Q. Looking back at those early days of The BMA, did you expect it to become such a significant force in the maritime sector?

Yes, I think so. I always had a tremendous confidence in our people, and we always had marvellous support from our Government, from day one. We were given an initial stake by the government, $1,000,000 I think, and since then we have returned to the Government well over a hundred times that number, so we have been steady financial contributors to the treasury and to the Bahamian people, and we hope to improve on that as well.

You grow because you do a good job, people hear about you, you try to make the right connections, you make sure you’re out in the marketplace.

And, in a sense, we have undersold

1997

1998

Formation of the

The BMA opens a New

The BMA became the

The Bahamas is once again elected to the IMO

1999 The BMA opens its

Bahamas Shipowners

York office, offering

world’s number one ship

since when it has served continuously through

first Japanese office in

Association (BSA)

shipowners and their

register of passenger

until the present day

Tokyo to boost services

in July 1997

representatives a full

vessels with 20%

registration service.

more of such vessels than any other flag

to Asian shipowners

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A Look Back at 25 Years of The BMA

ourselves because we tend to be low-key people. We have a small staff for our size, and we let our work speak for itself. But we’re getting better support at messaging, both internally and externally, and I think the message is growing and improving.

The BMA operates in a very competitive arena. We have to compete with our fellow registries; we do some things better than they do, and in some instances we learn from their strengths to benefit our shipowners. So, we compete every day to serve our clients and to serve our Country.

Q. The BMA has opened offices in Europe, Hong Kong, Japan and New York. Would you like to see a BMA presence in any other region of the world?

Asia in particular has several major markets - Singapore, Korea, Japan, China, Hong Kong. Although we already service them well, including through our offices in Hong Kong and Japan, we wish to serve the maritime sector broadly, internationally. In due course we will have offices in each major maritime centre but meanwhile we

are exploring different modalities, such as exclusive local agents, which can lead to our opening an office, as happened in Japan.

Shipowners want to know that there is someone down the street they can call, that they can get a quick answer, personal service, and excellent response time. We are good at that, but we are also willing to invest directly in a market in order for that market to invest in us. We take the first step, and we are patient; The BMA is here for the long haul. We bring to the table a lot that can make our shipowners’ businesses better and safer. And we look for shipowner relationships that respect and transcend the regulator/regulated, to form lasting partnerships.

Q. On a personal level, what has brought you most joy during your time with The BMA?

If you ask what I’ve got the most joy from, it’s people across the board - Prime Ministers, Ministers, Members of Government, Chairmen, Boards, people of the Bahamas, the great support

BMA Board (left to right) Capt. Eugene Munroe Ms. Pamela Gomez Mrs J, Denise Lewis- Johnson (Chair) Mr. Peter John Goulandris (Deputy Chair) Dr. Shawn Thurston Mr. Cardie Cox Absent: Ms. Jasmine Davis

2000

2020

The Bahamas Ship Register in

Teekay Shipping

The Bahamas Maritime Authority

Corporate re-brand - brand-new website

London is fully computerised,

consolidates its

commemorates 25 years

and a rejuvenated look at the end of 2020.

making it one of the most

entire fleet under

technically advanced Register

the Bahamian flag

systems in the world

underscoring The

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Bahamas’ capabilities across the tanker sector

A Look Back at 25 Years of The BMA

we get. I have worked with terrific people. I have made wonderful, lasting friendships. It has been a privilege I’m also so proud of our Country. We are a great people.

We have multiple centres of outstanding competence - in financial services, in tourism, in cultural affairs, medical care, cuisine - you name it and we have world class standing! That The BMA has made its mark, as well, is a source of pride.

I am proud of our youth, which The BMA does its part to encourage in a number of ways: through the Bahamas Maritime Cadet Corps, through supporting scholarships for Bahamians attending maritime academies, through the training of young people for maritime careers. Our wonderful Shipowners Association has been very generous and supportive in this regard. Maritime teaches skill and discipline, team effort and attention to detail. All of these are important lessons for anybody’s future.

I mentioned our Shipowners’ Association. They are a very strong group of exceptional people. They give us tremendous support, and we welcome their invaluable feedback as to what we do well, and where we can do better.

I congratulate, and thank, all those many individuals who have supported The Bahamas Maritime Authority in its first twenty-five years of service. I wish the Authority twenty-five more years of inspired service to the maritime industry and to The Bahamas.

Q. We can’t ignore the coronavirus pandemic.

What aspects of The Bahamas’ response to COVID do you think were particularly effective?

The pandemic has posed a challenge to the lives of everyone in the world. It’s the first time any of us has experienced a threat so broad and so insidious. It has devastated lives and it has devastated economic activity - jobs and livelihoods - everywhere. Being an archipelago reliant on travel by sea, The Bahamas has wrestled with unique issues - how to balance the physical needs of the Bahamas and Bahamians with the challenges of the virus and controlling its spread. How to keep essential services on-going and still save lives.

The Bahamas I think has made a brilliant effort, which is still active.

Members of The BMA were asked to help look after some of the maritime aspects of the pandemic, concerning the Bahamian people, and also for the many cruise ships and their seafarers that we allowed to shelter in our waters during such a difficult time.

We have had wonderful leadership. Our Chairman, Ambassador Lewis-Johnson has been tireless in her work, day in and day out. I have seen heroes at every level, working to address novel challenges and keeping people safe. The Chairman has been leading a terrific team, including our Managing Director, Captain Hutchinson, and Senior Commander Berne Wright who leads the Port Department. The team is still hard at work at the direction of the Prime Minister, doing what it can to help.

Every one of us prays for the day when the pandemic will be at an end. We see a light growing brighter, little by little, as the ability to be vaccinated grows closer. We have all been in this together, and I believe the Bahamas can be proud of how its people have confronted this scourge - humanely, responsibly and courageously.

Thank you, Mr. Goulandris. Do you have a closing thought?

In closing, I congratulate, and thank, all those many individuals who have supported The Bahamas Maritime Authority in its first twentyfive years of service. I wish the Authority twenty-five more years of inspired service to the maritime industry and to The Bahamas.

The BMA Launches Major Enhancements to

The fight against

The Bahamas

its Online Registration Information System

COVID-19 recognising

Government offers

the global efforts of

shelter to cruise

the shipping industry

ships during the COVID pandemic

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A Look Back at 25 Years of The BMA

The Bahamas sees a positive future for shipping post COVID-19 As the world draws its breath after the unprecedented challenges of 2020, I am extremely proud, as a former seafarer, of the important role played by ships, and their crews, in the global response to, and ongoing recovery from, the COVID-19 pandemic. I am equally proud of the broader shipping industry’s contribution to sustaining of the global economy.

Managing Director and CEO of The BMA Capt. Dwain Hutchinson

From its formation 25 years ago, The Bahamas Maritime Authority (BMA) team, working in conjunction with our Bahamas Recognised Classification Societies and Bahamas Nautical Inspectors, have ensured that the service provided to Bahamas flagged ships is of the highest possible quality. This commitment to quality is shared by our shipowners who have demonstrated the high level of shipboard standards that has resulted in the Bahamas Flag achieving one of the highest rankings in the port state control MoU whitelists and US Qualship 21.

Long term global sustainability is a key issue for shipping, and The BMA’s active participation and collaboration with strategic partners align with the IMO’s environmental Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). When representing The Bahamas, a goalbased approach to the regulatory process remains at the core of all our decision-making processes and throughout our engagement at the international level at the IMO or regionally within the Caribbean.

The pandemic has accelerated the global adoption of technology which will be fundamental to the reduction of the environmental footprint of the industry. We have capitalised on technology to enhance our service offering through our online registration services (BORIS) and have established robust systems to facilitate

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remote inspections, surveys and other statutory work.

These steps have proved critical to maintaining the continuous operation of Bahamas ships during the pandemic. An enhanced customer-friendly website and a fresh new look have also been developed to align communications with The BMA’s audience.

A global customer base requires worldwide representation and our presence in The Bahamas, USA, Greece, UK, Hong Kong and Japan enables effective service delivery in a 24/7 industry. Further global expansion and capacity building is planned for our growing and diverse market sector.

Throughout this challenging year, The BMA has been determined to adhere to its core values of progress, honour and service. To this end, we have progressed our business through the introduction of new technology which will benefit our clients for years to come and we have served the shipping industry with our continuing commitment to, and honouring of, the regulatory standards and requirements to enhance the safety, security and sustainability of the maritime sector. These values will continue to dictate our actions in the years to come and we thank all our ship owners for entrusting us with their vessels and our industry stakeholders for their valued partnership.

A Look Back at 25 Years of The BMA

The Bahamas Maritime Authority commemorates 25 years with a brand-new website and fresh new look As part of our 25th anniversary celebration The BMA was delighted to launch its brand-new website and a rejuvenated look at the end of 2020.

The brand new website has been developed to offer clear routes to key landing pages, with new, informative content to encourage users to explore the site for longer and gain a greater understanding of The BMA. It has been fully optimised to ensure a good experience across all digital platforms, and the improved user-interface makes it easy to find vital updates and technical information, as well as introducing potential new clients to the Bahamas Registry.

For those new to The BMA, the website provides sector specific areas to help clients and partners find relevant products and services specific to their needs. The Bahamas On-line Registration Information System (BORIS) is now available both directly and via the website.

Customer service has always been at the heart of everything The BMA undertakes and our new website has been developed with the customer experience at its core. It provides simple routes to all the information that our clients need, from the application forms for vessels and seafarers, to BMA guidance documents, from market sector information to seafarer documents verification, right through to direct access to our online registration service - BORIS.

The BMA simultaneously unveiled a fresh new look which encompasses a new logo and revitalised branding.

The BMA is very proud of its national maritime heritage and the new branding continues to capture those elements that are inextricably linked to The Bahamas such as the forwardlooking arrow which represents The Authority’s vision for the future: growth; innovation and continued quality of service. The BMA’s crest, which has been given a contemporary twist, will continue to feature as a graphic design element in all marketing material, reinforcing The BMA’s long history in combination with its modern outlook. There is a vibrant new colour palette, aligned to The Bahamas national colours, which is linked to a bold and

up-to-date typeface to convey the energy, diversity and dynamism of The BMA today.

The re-brand has been created to align BMA communications with its audience and has been tailored to suit both print and digital media, embracing all parts of the client life-cycle. A raft of new literature has been produced to provide an accessible overview of the services on offer from The Bahamas register, the advantages they provide and also to showcase the rich diversity of its fleet.

The Bahamas is truly a maritime nation, steeped in tales of shipping since the 18th Century. But just as important as its past is the vibrancy of the nation and its people today and we were determined that our new branding would also demonstrate the vivaciousness of The Bahamas.

As a market leading ship registry with an ongoing commitment to unrivalled customer service, we were determined to develop an image to match. The new identity is modern and dynamic, perfectly capturing the essence of both the organisation and The Bahamas.

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A Look Back at 25 Years of The BMA

The BMA Launches Major Enhancements to its Online Registration Information System The BMA has made some significant enhancements to its digital platform, the Bahamas Online Registration Information System (BORIS), underlining its commitment to remain at the forefront of reviewing and implementing appropriate new technology tools.

These developments mean that companies registering for this service will be able to digitally access many of the services offered by The BMA. These services include check and reserve a vessel name, complete registration application and certificate verification. This capability will complement the existing online seafarer services that provide the ability to pay an invoice, download systemgenerated documents, monitor progress and track seafarer applications.

As a result of these enhancements, The BMA has been able to implement a move to full electronic certification, fulfilling the requirements of IMO FAL.5/ Circ.39/Rev.2 guidelines for the use of electronic certificates. This is good for The BMA’s clients and good for the environment. Certificates can now be obtained instantly; records are available online 24/7 and verified on demand through the verification systems. And, of course, the environment benefits as there is less paper waste and a reduced carbon footprint as courier systems are no longer needed. However, where there is a requirement for a hard copy of a certificate, this can be supplied on request.

A major benefit to users is that the enhanced system avoids the need to repeatedly enter ship data when completing registration forms as vessel details only need to be entered once.

This, combined with an improved user

interface, will represent increased business efficiency and significant time and cost savings for clients during the registration process. New users can get started easily by registering for an account in the ‘What would you like to do?’ section of BORIS. The launch of the new enhancements to BORIS is a significant and progressive step for The BMA. The registration process has been simplified and, with the user-friendly design of the system, we believe clients will welcome this innovative online service.

John Adams, Chairman of the Bahamas Shipowners Association (BSA), whose members made valuable contributions to the process, said: “The BSA is pleased to see the launch of the new online registration tool from The BMA, which several of our members were able to review during its development.”

To register for BORIS Online Services visit public.bahamasmaritime.com/account

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The fight against COVID-19 recognising the global efforts of the shipping industry The Bahamas Government offers shelter to cruise ships Of huge concern to the entire shipping industry has been the general health and wellbeing of seafarers who are central to the global response to, and recovery from, the COVID-19 pandemic. Many of these seafarers had been on board ships that were either in port, at anchorage or at sea. Furthermore, even if able to get to port, air travel has been virtually non-existent so the chances of getting home have remained remote.

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The fight against COVID-19 recognising the global efforts of the shipping industry

The Bahamas Government offers shelter to cruise ships cont...

The Bahamas is a country for which tourism is the major industry and, as such, it has a very close relationship with the passenger ship (cruise) sector of shipping.

The Bahamas Government recognised the challenges facing seafarers on board these ships in the Caribbean region and, taking the viewpoint that humanitarian need trumps all else, developed a series of protocols designed to allow The Bahamas to go above and beyond what was legally required. It worked tirelessly alongside cruise ship owners to permit their ships, along with their on board crew, to shelter in Bahamian territorial waters during the period of their suspended operations due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

a collective crew of over 50,000 seafarers.

The Bahamas is a small country with a population of approximately 300,000 so this was a significant gesture on the part of The Government and people. The country takes pride in its reputation as a responsible and caring IMO coastal and port state and has demonstrated why it is worthy of this reputation through its actions.

The Government’s offer was taken up by a number of cruise companies and over the period of over three months, some 70 ships of all flags sheltered in The Bahamas, with

Utilising tenders and shipboard crafts whilst following the strict medical and safety protocols instigated by The Bahamas Government, crews were moved between

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The Bahamas’ action in providing a safe haven (to both Bahamas flagged and nonflagged vessels) facilitated the efforts by companies to repatriate crews back to their home using their own ships, a necessity due to the travel restrictions in force throughout the North America and Caribbean region.

ships so that all seafarers from one geographic region were together on one vessel that was then able to sail back to their home states, thus avoiding the need for air travel.

Equally important was the safeguarding of The Bahamian population, there was no interaction or engagement between the crews of the ships and local residents, nor were the crews allowed to leave their vessels other than for the purposes of the authorised shipboard operations and latterly for recreational purposes on some of the islands.

The BMA, working with the Nassau Port Department and Bahamas Office of the Chief Medical Officer, was very proud to be a part of the Bahamas Government’s multiagency team working under the Bahamas Emergency Power Orders as we collaborated and supported our cruise ship partners in their efforts to repatriate seafarers to be reunited with their families during this challenging period.

The fight against COVID-19 recognising the global efforts of the shipping industry

The BMA continues to follow World Health Organisation advice Throughout the pandemic, The BMA has continued to follow the expert advice of the World Health Organisation and local national medical authorities on COVID-19.

The BMA upholds its responsibilities and duties as a flag state as we monitor developments and take into account all international and industry guidance on this issue. We work with Bahamian governmental agencies, along with all our industry partners, to offer support, provide guidance and consider solutions for our shipowners, their ships and seafarers affected by COVID-19.

In addition to direct issues resulting from crew or passengers being taken ill, we have remained aware of the possible impact to statutory surveys, audits and inspections.

The BMA has issued Technical Alert 20-03

to provide advice and general guidance on actions to be taken in the case of extension of Seafarer Employment Agreements and/or postponement of statutory surveys, audits and/or inspections.

As we continue to prioritise health and safety above all, there has never been a more critical time for the industry to come together to demonstrate its resilience in the face of adversity.

For specific advice, please contact The BMA directly. www.bahamasmaritime.com

Crewing In Crisis Debate

In October 2020, The Bahamas Shipowners Association brought together the Secretary Generals of ITF and ICS, the CEO of The BMA and the President of ECSA to discuss the ongoing problems for crews during the COVID-19 crisis. ‘Crewing in Crisis’ addressed the many challenges faced by crews today around the world.

At the time it was estimated that some 400,000 seafarers were stuck on board their vessel, causing enormous physical and psychological hardship.

The BMA would like to thank all stakeholders who joined the debate and contributed to the quest to solve this untenable situation.

The Day of the Seafarer 2020

The Day of the Seafarer fell during the sixth month of the COVID-19 pandemic which, although devastating from a public health point of view, did act to raise the profile of the so-called invisible “key” workers who sustain our economy and, more importantly, are critical to combating the spread of the virus and assisting in our recovery from it. People started to appreciate that shipping was part of the COVID-19 solution, with seafarers being integral and ‘key’ to all the global efforts.

We at The BMA were honoured to be able to take the opportunity provided by Day of The Day of the Seafarer fell the Seafarer to stop and consider just how during the sixth month of the much the world owes to those courageous COVID-19 which, seafarers whopandemic have shown their dedication

alt-hough devastating from a public health point of view, did act to raise the profile of the so called invisible “key” workers who sustain our economy and, more importantly, are critical to combating the spread of

and commitment to keeping essential supplies moving around the globe. the virus and assisting in our We were also pleased to recognise the recovery from it. People started efforts and measures undertaken by our to appreciate that the shipping was shipowners to safeguard mental health

part of the COVID-19 solution, with seafarers being integral and ‘key’ to all the global efforts.

We at The BMA were honoured to be able to take the opportunity provided by Day of the Seafarer to stop and consider just how much the world owes to those courageous

and wellbeing of the seafarers, and their families, board flagged ships. seafarerson who haveBahamian shown their dedication

and commitment to keeping essential To you the seafarers, we were proud to join the supplies moving around the globe. international community in saying Thank you.

We were also pleased to recognise the efforts and measures undertaken by our shipowners to safeguard the mental health and wellbeing of the seafarers, and their families, on board Bahamian flagged ships.

To you the seafarers, we were proud to join the international community in saying Thank you.

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Ensuring Quality of Service is in our DNA

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Ensuring Quality of Service is in our DNA

A message from John Adams, Chairman, The Bahamas Shipowners Association Bahamas Shipowners Association - Chairman John Adams

As everyone knows, this past one and a half years has not been the easiest and our businesses have faced challenges at a scale which were previously unheard of and the full extent of the consequences of COVID-19 are only now beginning to be understood.

From an operational perspective, you as well as I know how our businesses are affected, and how the flow of goods initially slowed down to a minimum. For some sectors, operations even came to a complete standstill, with ships being laid up all around the globe, presenting our industry with many fast moving and escalating challenges on both a humanitarian and business level.

On the humanitarian side we have seen the effects on all the men and women, and their families, who are our crews. The situation has been as far from normal as we could ever think, and clearly the MLC 2006 was not designed for the circumstances in which we have found ourselves.

Still, we must not forget that our crews are our very frontline in this situation. They are also the ones who ensure our and The Bahamas Flag’s quality mark. I know you are doing your utmost to find solutions to the countless

I am delighted to have the opportunity to address you in this special commemorative edition of The Flag in the 25th Anniversary year for The Bahamas Maritime Authority. situations our crews are facing, as do I in my operation, and I urge you all to do everything in your power to ensure their good health, safety and security.

Crew being stranded on board or in different parts of the world is simply not sustainable.

The pandemic has also affected regulatory work, which at first came to a halt for a period of time. But through innovation, and the adoption of existing and new technology, many of the processes have now recommenced. The IMO has held its meetings remotely via internet meetings, but unfortunately the process has its limits and does not allow for participation by the BSA and as a result we have actively worked with The BMA as well as the ICS to promote the interests of BSA Members. An example of this is the matter of Long-term Measures as part of the IMO GHG Strategy. Having personally chaired the joint working group between the ICS, Intertanko, Bimco, Intercargo, and the World Shipping Council on Long-term Measures, we cooperated with the Japanese government with a submission to the IMO proposing to set up a fund specifically aimed at Research and Development geared at making shipping carbon neutral.

As Chair of the BSA I recognise that The BMA has confirmed The Bahamas will support the proposal during discussions at the MEPC 76.

Returning to the issue of quality, I was reflecting on the great achievements over the past year - The Bahamas Flag has yet again retained its Qualship-21 status as well as again being one of the highest ratings in the Paris MoU inspections. This is first and foremost the result of all the hard work and attention to detail by the shipowners and their crews. It is also proof of the hard work of The Bahamas Maritime Authority and most notable that The BMA has continued to run its operation as a Flag authority with a “business as usual” policy. Although not being able to keep its offices open to the same degree as normal, it is clear that work has remained ongoing throughout the year and that The BMA is very much on its toes providing us as shipowners, The BMA clients, with an almost unhampered service. This year has seen developments in how inspections and surveys are undertaken through the imaginative use of cameras, phones, tablets and most lately e-certification. I would specifically like to thank Capt.

Dwain Hutchinson, Managing

Director and CEO of The BMA, for his leadership on this. Quality is a trademark of The Bahamas Flag - let us keep it that way!

The latter is of course also a trademark of the exceptional and outstanding relationship between The BMA and the BSA. The cooperation we see at all levels of The BMA, the pragmatism we see in The BMA supporting us as owners, managers and operators, whilst staying within the regulatory framework as well as upholding the very quality of The Bahamas Flag. The possibility for the BSA to bring any question to the table and to be able to discuss matters of highest importance with The BMA management team, The BMA Board and with The Bahamas Government is truly a sign of mutual respect.

Last but not least, I would like to remind BSA members the Secretariat is always ready to support you. During the past year, the BSA Manager has supported numerous members through our contacts with other national associations and maritime authorities around the world.

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Ensuring Quality of Service is in our DNA

Spotlight on Bespoke Registration Services Excellence and quality are the cornerstones of the work of The Bahamas Maritime Authority and its registration teams. Throughout the entire registration process, the teams work diligently to provide support and guidance to our clients.

It is always our intention to make the registration process as straight forward and efficient as possible Deputy Director Carolyn Moree

As the first point of contact with the Authority, it is vital that our registrars understand not only how to process the registration procedure but also how they can make our clients’ lives easier.

A straight forward and efficient process Registrar and Deputy Director Carolyn Moree, has worked at The BMA for over 16 years, and she is an advocate of doing things the right way. “It is always our intention to make the registration process as straight forward and efficient as possible while ensuring that every stage is completed thoroughly and accurately. To this end we have created a user-friendly registration procedure,” she said.

“We have recently enhanced our processes by developing and embracing new technology that makes it possible for all standard information to be pre-populated on all our stand-alone forms, reducing the amount of repetitious form-filling that was needed previously. There are a number of official forms that must be completed before a ship can be registered and documents issued, and the new systems helps to alleviate the work involved. Although there is still a requirement to complete certain sections individually, it results in significant time savings for our clients,” she added.

The BMA is able to register newbuilds, ships moving from another registry and also ships under construction, provided that the keel has been laid. Although

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proof of class documentation is required for newbuilds and existing ships (and at a later date for ships being built), The BMA accepts International Tonnage Certificates issued under the 1969 Tonnage Convention, by or on behalf of other registries or by approved classification societies.

Bespoke service From the first interaction with a new client, The BMA registration team takes on a supportive role. Whether confirming with the client the date for registration or ensuring that the chosen name for the vessel is available for use, clients have a personal contact who is able to handle every aspect of the transaction. This level of service is available to all representatives of the client including ship managers, lawyers or in-house legal teams.

This personal attention to clients means that The BMA is able to offer a bespoke service, supporting clients through the complete registration process. In fact, there is an element of educating first time clients so that they are better equipped to deal with future ship registrations. Furthermore, a number of the team members have studied law, with three of them having been called to the Bar of

England, Wales and The Bahamas. This gives the team a definite edge and every single member is qualified to assist with the various queries during the registration transactions.

As a result of the close relationship that builds between registrar and client, it is possible to complete transactions to an extremely tight deadline, The BMA has been known to register a ship, including the issuing of all certifications, within the space of an hour when presented with the completed documentation.

This direct access to senior personnel extends beyond the registration team to the entire organisation so that clients can be sure that the answer to virtually every query can be found through a single telephone call.

Supportive team Having started as the most junior member of The BMA registry department, Carolyn is determined to give her team the same chances to progress as she herself has received. “I have worked hard to create a learning environment within the registration team where members are encouraged to build their skills, learning from the transactions which we all undertake and, indeed, from each other. This has

Ensuring Quality of Service is in our DNA

resulted in a truly cohesive team that can step in and pick up each other’s work where someone is unexpectedly absent so that no client is left waiting for a response. One of the most satisfying aspects of heading up a department is in seeing the team members grow in terms of expertise and confidence.”

Registrars available around the clock With fully-manned offices in Asia, North America and two different European time zones, The BMA always has a registrar available no matter where or when the registration is required. This is particularly useful for ships registering early in the day in Asia. The teams in Japan and Hong Kong and all BMA offices are readily available to handle all the necessary documentation to ensure that the registration is handled in a timely and efficient manner. Although a registration can happen in any regional office, BMA London currently remains a central hub for mortgage registrations, with most mortgage transactions undertaken through the London office.

Wherever the mortgage transaction is taking place, the notarised instrument has to be deposited and recorded in local time. Over many years the registration team has built up long-standing relationships with many of

the notaries, financiers and the financiers’ lawyers operating in the shipping sector so that the Authority is frequently entrusted with holding the mortgage instrument in escrow.

The trust that has built up between The BMA, notaries, financiers and the financiers’ lawyers means that what has the potential to be a complicated issue involving many different parties can often be simplified.

An expanded role In addition to the core business of registering ships, The BMA’s registration department also handles the issuance of mandatory certificates pertaining to Oil Pollution, Bunker Oil and Wreck Removal insurance. For the issuance of the certificates, it may be necessary to review documentation submitted by insurers that are not members of the International Group of P&I Clubs, and the guidance criteria provided by the IMO Guidelines For Accepting Insurance Companies, Financial Security Providers and The International Group of Protection and Indemnity Associations (P&I Clubs) is followed. The registration department also ensures it keeps up to date with all the IMO standards that relate to insurance.

A range of other activities undertaken by the

registration department include assigning MMSI numbers, call signs and issuing radio licenses on behalf of The Bahamas’ Telecommunications Authority, Utilities Regulation & Competition Authority (URCA), renaming of ships, registering the change of owner and/or manager of a ship, handling bareboat charter agreements and organising dual flags for ships, and moves to other registries.

Falling in love with shipping For Carolyn, shipping has turned into more than a career, “After joining The BMA I had the great opportunity to board a dedicated container vessel of over 250 metres in length and while on board observing this large ship and the scale of its operations, my love of shipping was cemented. It was the moment when I fully comprehended just how important the industry is to the world at large and I fell completely in love with the maritime industry.

“To be able to work within this industry, for an Authority that is dedicated to operating with discipline and due diligence, and where I know I can do my absolute best for our clients fills me with pride,” she concluded.

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Ensuring Quality of Service is in our DNA

Time for a rethink on what a quality flag really is For those wondering what a quality flag represents, they need look no further than The Bahamas. Its steadfast commitment to quality and safety has enabled it to be repeatedly recognised by the United States Coast Guard (USCG) through its Qualship 21 programme (Quality Shipping for the 21st Century).

The USCG ‘Qualship 21′ list recognises the quality of Bahamas registered ships, their Owners/Managers and crew, operating to and from United States ports. The Bahamas always strives for zero detentions and is moving ever closer to this goal with just four detentions out of all the US port state inspections of Bahamas flagged ships during the last two years.

Furthermore, The Bahamas is at the top of the so-called ‘White-list’ within the port state control regimes of the Paris MoU and Tokyo MoU. When listings were announced in 2020, the Registry was once again ranked as the top non-European ship register and

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in the top three of all registries on port state inspection performance during 2019.

Everyone at The BMA is delighted that the stringent attention to quality that is paid by all of our Owners has been recognised once again and we would like to take the opportunity to express our appreciation to our Owners, Managers and crew on board Bahamas registered ships, for this achievement.

Together our dedication to applying, operating and maintaining Bahamas’ ships to the highest possible standards is a credit to The Bahamas, The BMA and your organisation.”

Qualship 21 and high Whitelist rankings are testament to The BMA’s team, including

Qualship 21, Whitelist and Low Risk Flag Status in Paris, Tokyo MoU

its Recognised Organisations and Nautical Inspectors, commitment and dedication. The support and advice that The BMA provides to Owners to assist them with port state control and regulatory compliance issues, as well as the regular flag state inspections, statutory audits and surveys of the fleet that are undertaken, ensure their ships comply in all respects with the international conventions and so uphold the reputation of The Bahamas.

Our Owners, their Managers and crew on board their ships demonstrate the best values seen in the shipping industry and, along with all other ship owners, they have played a major role in the global response to, and recovery from, the COVID-19 pandemic as they transport urgently needed food, medical supplies and provisions around the world.

The Bahamas Flag proves its quality with Qualship 21 status and White List rankings

Ensuring Quality of Service is in our DNA

The BMA is elected to the Advisory Committee of the IMSO

The BMA is delighted to have been elected once again to the Advisory Committee of the International Mobile Satellite Organisation (IMSO).

The IMSO is the inter-governmental organisation whose primary purpose is the oversight of certain public satellite safety and security communication services provided by mobile satellite communications systems. It oversees the performance of all components and the availability of those systems that are recognised by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) for their use in Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS), Long Range Identification and Tracking (LRIT) and other safety protocols.

Mobile satellite communications systems are vital to the safety of shipping and The BMA is proud that it continues to play a proactive role in the monitoring of developments in this sector.

The BMA delighted to be a Partner of SHIPPINGInsight 20/20 - A Vision for the Decade With a line-up of over 100 speakers from approximately 40 companies, SHIPPINGInsight was a valuable opportunity for maritime professionals to gather virtually to discuss and debate the vision for the next decade. This was a forum where fleet management met maritime technology.

Chairing a discussion addressing safety on the high seas was Deputy Director and Head of The BMA’s Casualty and Investigations

Department, Tom Jenkins. The focus of the debate was seafarer welfare and the impact COVID 19 is having on the maritime industry and featured panellists representing international bodies and associations.

major industries today. Ships face a huge variety of ESG risks and challenges which begin in the construction phase, continue throughout the trading life of a vessel and, finally, conclude at the end of its lifecycle.

Capt. Steve Bomgardner, Regional Director (Americas) & Global Business Development Director for The BMA also participated in the forum, giving a presentation on the subject of ESG, an increasingly important topic for all shipowners, investors and financiers across

This was the ideal forum for the global maritime community to gather in order to make shipping more efficient, safer and more modern while reducing its environmental impact.

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The BMA’s ongoing commitment to marine sustainability The BMA joins the North American Marine Environment Protection Association The BMA is delighted to announce its membership of the North American Marine Environment Protection Association (NAMEPA).

NAMEPA is an organisation of marine industry members, all sharing a fundamental belief that the marine environment should be preserved by promoting sustainable marine industry best practices and educating seafarers, students and the public about the need to protect global ocean, lake and river resources. Through a series of events run

at regular intervals throughout the year and educational resources, developed with the school curriculum in mind, NAMEPA aims to educate the next generation so that they reach adulthood inspired to become better stewards of their oceans.

Sustainability is a key issue for The BMA and it is keen to support any organisation

Eyesea gives us all the opportunity to support the marine environment For everyone who spends time at sea, the increasing pollution of the oceans is a cause for great concern but, although there are many organisations promoting cleaner seas, the launch of Eyesea is the first attempt to give every seafarer a pro-active role in pulling together data showing the exact location of marine pollution so that action can be targeted.

As a small island state that relies heavily on the seas for its prosperity, The Bahamas

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Maritime Authority is particularly concerned with the issue of marine pollution and is an active supporter of many organisations that work to make the oceans sustainable.

The BMA’s Regional Director and Business Development Director, Steve Bomgardner, who is an Ambassador and Officer of Eyesea, said: “I am honoured to be able to play my part in promoting Eyesea. I will be working with other bodies, such as The North American Marine Environment Protection Association (NAMEPA), which has partnered with Eyesea, to build this vital world map of marine pollution.”

working to protect the marine environment.

As a member of the organisation, The BMA will collaborate with leaders in industry, government, regulatory and environmental groups that share its sustainability goals, all working together to implement strategies to help ‘save our seas’.

Steve Bomgardner Regional Director & Business Development Director

The BMA’s ongoing commitment to marine sustainability

World Maritime Day 2020 The IMO’s 2020 theme of ‘Sustainable shipping for a sustainable planet’ encompassed all The BMA’s values and commitment to enhancing the safety of seafarers while ensuring that we preserve our beautiful planet for future generations of people and wildlife.

World Maritime Day was an occasion when everyone involved in the shipping sector came together to reflect on the past year and look to the ways we can help to shape our industry in the coming years.

The Bahamas has remained an active IMO Council member since the 1990s, contributing to the regulatory framework and measures as the organisation aims to achieve its strategic objectives for Safe, Secure and Efficient Shipping on Clean Seas.

During these challenging times, shipping continues to transport more than 80% of global trade. We in The BMA are very proud of our industry and the active steps that it is taking to ensure that both the industry and the environment are sustained.

We value and respect everyone working within the shipping industry and will continue to actively seek to collaborate and cooperate with any stakeholders that share our ethos in wanting to secure a sustainable future for us all.

Bahamas ships to benefit from WCPFC and NEAFC cooperation The Bahamas Maritime Authority (BMA) is delighted to announce that the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC), at its 2020 annual meeting, has accorded The Bahamas the status of Cooperating Non-Member (CNM) within the organisation. This decision not only recognises The Bahamas’ non-compromising commitment to transparency, regulatory compliance and better control over fishing-related activities by the Bahamas fleet, but also strengthens its position as a strong supporter of Regional Fisheries Management Organisations’ (RFMO) efforts in total eradication of Illegal, Unregulated and Unreported (IUU) fishing practices on a global scale.

The WCPFC was established in 2004 on the basis of the Convention for the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stock in the Western and Central Pacific region. The Commission is acting as the regulatory authority in the management of high seas fisheries activities and conservation efforts in the convention area.

Cooperation with WCPFC paves the way for The Bahamas to establish a fisheries cargoes transhipment authorisation program with the Commission. The program will allow reefer carriers flying The Bahamas flag to undertake high-seas transhipment of cargoes originated from the WCPFC regulatory area. Such cooperation will open new commercial opportunities to Bahamian flagged reefers available through the Transhipment Authorisation program enrolment and allocation to the list of WCPFC Fishing Vessels.

This follows closely on the heels of the renewal of The Bahamas’ status as a Cooperating Non-Contracting party to the North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission (NEAFC), the Regional Fisheries Management Organisation (RFMO) for the North East Atlantic whose objective is to ensure the long-term conservation and optimum utilisation of the fishery resources in the Convention Area.

The continued NEAFC membership is beneficial for Bahamian flagged refrigerated cargo ships that wish to be authorised to engage in transhipment operations in the NEAFC regulatory area during 2021. The Bahamas Maritime Authority (BMA) works collaboratively with the Bahamas Department of Marine Resources to ensure that all NEAFC’s measures are adopted and implemented.

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IMO Update "Safe, secure and efficient shipping on clean oceans."

The Maritime Affairs Department’s engagements at the IMO in 2020 were a mixture of physical meetings before March, and virtual thereafter. Meetings related to NCSR7, SDC7, PPR7 and SSE7 were attended by the delegation physically. For the rest of the year, the meetings were held by correspondence and virtually, these being the Extra Ordinary Sessions of the Council (31st), Extra Ordinary Session of All Committees, the FAL 44, Council 124, MSC 102, MEPC 75, LEG 107, IOPC Deputy Director Captain Ghulam Hussain

Funds, the TCC 70 and IMSO 46. In between, there have been active participations in IMO related Intersessional Working Groups as well as Industry led Correspondence Groups.

Amongst the many meeting agenda items, The Bahamas has very actively engaged on matters related to pollution and greenhouse gas reduction, in line with the Flag’s commitment to cleaner seas and mitigation to climate change.

In February 2020, The BMA attended the IMO Sub-Committee on Pollution Prevention and Response (PPR7), which covered all ship and marine pollution matters. PPR has under its remit all annexes of the MARPOL Convention, Ballast water, biofouling, anti-fouling system, black carbon, plastic marine litter etc. Amongst the agenda items were exhaust gas cleaning systems, or scrubbers, and discharge criteria for open-loop scrubbers. A revised version of the Guidelines on exhaust gas cleaning systems was agreed and will be issued in 2021. It also dealt with the revision of MARPOL Annex IV on Sewage to be dealt with at PPR8.

In November 2020, the ISWG-GHG7 (Intersessional Working Group) meeting was held in line with the ambition of the Initial IMO GHG Strategy, which aims to reduce carbon intensity of international shipping by 40% by 2030, compared to 2008. A draft new mandatory measure to cut the carbon

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intensity of existing ships was agreed upon, to further reduce greenhouse gas emissions . The draft amendments will be put forward for adoption at the subsequent MEPC 76 session, to be held during 2021.

The draft amendments would require the IMO to review the effectiveness of the implementation of the CII and EEXI requirements, by 1 January 2026 at the latest, and, if necessary, develop and adopt further amendments. The strategy also proposed that short-term measures should be those measures finalized and agreed by the Committee between 2018 and 2023.

The Bahamas has actively participated in deliberations on matters related to Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI), for new build ships, the mandatory Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plan (SEEMP), for all ships and the two new measures: the technical requirement to reduce carbon intensity, based on a new Energy Efficiency Existing Ship Index (EEXI); and the operational carbon intensity reduction requirements, based on a new operational carbon intensity indicator (CII).

The Bahamas was also concerned with the challenges related to crew repatriation

matters. COVID-19 continued to affect the world’s economy and work force, seafarers being amongst the most vulnerable as well as valuable, in the chain of events. Seafarers continue to face innumerable challenges in their work patterns, repatriation, mental health, fatigue, and well-being on board vessels. The annual Day of the Seafarer was celebrated on 25 June 2020 and the theme of the IMO campaign reflected the role of seafarers and the need for them to be declared “key workers” in the light of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Bahamas is proud to have declared seafarers as essential workers, in line with the recommendations from IMO. The Bahamas continues to work closely with the Seafarer Crisis Action Team (SCAT) established

by IMO to help resolve individual cases.

2021 is expected to bring in further challenges and substantial agenda items at the IMO. The Bahamas will continue to engage effectively and strongly in contributing towards maritime progress with special emphasis on safety, pollution prevention, environmental protection and reduction of green-house gas effects.

Women in Maritime - Finding our Space Women In Maritime Finding Our Space

Ambassador J. Denise Lewis-Johnson MBE (BMA Board Chair)

Ms. Pamela Gomez BMA Board Director

Ms. Jasmine Davis BMA Board Director

International Women’s Day : Women from The Bahamas share their maritime stories To mark International Women’s Day, The Bahamas Maritime Authority (BMA) hosted a virtual round table forum featuring a number of the amazing Bahamian women working in maritime worldwide. Female employees of The BMA from around the globe attended the event along with many others from the shipping sector. The Board wishes to thank all parties who participated for the contribution they have made to our industry.

Director General Shanon Brennen-Haylock spoke about the wonderful achievements under the theme “Women In Maritime - Finding Our Space”, BMA Board Chair Ambassador Denise Lewis-Johnson, BMA Board Director Jasmine Davis and BMA Board Director Pamela Gomez were joined by Juanita Butler of BMA Japan office, Isabella Jones of The BMA London office, Director General Sharon BrennenHaylock of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Dr Stephanie Hutcheson of the University of The Bahamas.

Ambassador Lewis-Johnson, The BMA’s Board first female chair, welcomed all to the virtual forum. She highlighted the shattering of the glass ceiling in the male dominated maritime industry and recognised that it is incumbent upon her to perform above and beyond the highest standards in order that the next female chair will be appointed without reservation.

Juanita Butler, The BMA Registrar in the Japan Office, shared her experience of transitioning from manual to computerised systems and the different circumstances of working in individual BMA offices over

the course of 25 years. She has worked in London, New York, Hong Kong and Japan and described how it felt to be working in countries where people had no knowledge of The Bahamas or even where it was located.

Isabella Jones, who was recognised as one of the 100 top women in shipping in 2020, provided an insight on her maritime journey and how she searched out where she fitted in both the office and in the industry itself her personal ‘space’. She explained how her journey included spending two years working on cruise ships. She committed herself to learning more about the human factor of shipping and expanded her education.

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Women in Maritime - Finding our Space

International Women’s Day : Women from The Bahamas share their maritime stories cont...

Ultimately, she discovered that, notwithstanding the fact that she was female, her professionalism, dedication, passion and hard work would transcend colour and gender, and preconceived notions.

Bringing the round table to a conclusion, Dr Stephanie Hutcheson, an expert in the field of psychology, talked about the importance of good mental health, particularly during a time of pandemic and all the restrictions resulting from it. She gave a practical and heartfelt presentation on strategies we can all employ to improve our mental health and increase our mindfulness at this stressful time.

This fascinating and informative forum was rounded off with a Q and A session which raised the important issue of how the maritime industry can attract the young women who will be the mariners of the future - an issue close to The BMA’s heart. The BMA not only runs a cadet programme, The Bahamas Maritime Cadet Corps, but also offers university scholarship to support young Bahamians who are keen to train for a career in the shipping industry.

Speakers The BMA Board is honoured that so many people participated in the “Women In Maritime - Finding Our Space” forum.

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BMA Japan office Juanita Butler

BMA London office Isabella Jones

Haylock of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Director General Sharon Brennen

University of The Bahama Dr Stephanie Hutcheson

Women in Maritime - Finding our Space

Isabella Jones celebrates her place in the All About Shipping Top 100 Women in Shipping Many congratulations to The BMA’s Isabella Jones who has just been voted as one of All About Shipping’s Top 100 Women in Shipping. This is a recognition by her peers of the work that Isabella undertakes both at The BMA and also for the wider shipping community.

BMA Seafarers & Manning Department Isabella Jones

Isabella is a key member of the Seafarers & Manning Department where she has been actively providing guidance and ensuring compliance with the Maritime Labour Convention 2006 requirements. The importance of seafarers remains at the forefront of the global response and recovery to COVID-19 as well as the broader long-term economic sustainability and it is in this area that Isabella’s commitment, professionalism and dedication has enabled the resolution of MLC 2006 matters. As a part of her role, Isabella has represented the Bahamas at the International Maritime Organisation Legal Committee and is engaged in The BMA’s collaboration with the Bahamas Ministry of Labour at the International Labour Organisation.

In addition to her work at The BMA, Isabella is an active member of the Women’s International Shipping and Trade Association (WISTA). Outside of the maritime industry, she is a trustee of the Commonwealth Girls Education Fund (which

The BMA takes part in the first ever SheEO conference

The Bahamas Maritime Authority has long been an advocate for creating more diversity in shipping so Managing Director and CEO, Captain Dwain Hutchinson, was honoured to be a speaker at the very first SheEO Conference.

SheEO was founded by Sanjam Sahi Gupta, a Director of Sitara Shipping Ltd and

Executive Governor of the World Maritime University, with the aim of creating the next generation of female maritime leaders.

Captain Hutchinson was part of a panel discussing: The Future of Work: Adapting Business Models Post COVID-19 & Changing Technology where the blended approach towards learning and professional

sponsors girls of ability through secondary school where, without financial assistance, they would be unable or unlikely to continue their education) and also Chairman of the Community & Vocation Committee, Rotary Club of London, District 1130. development, as well as the advancement of a number of technologies, were amongst some of the areas highlighted as being the outcome of business adapting as a result of COVID. He said: “I would like to thank Sanjam Gupta for organising this event which was joined by more than 1,500 participants from 77 countries. This is an exciting time for shipping as more and more women not only enter the industry but move into leadership roles. In The Bahamas, we are seeing this at grass roots level through The Bahamas Maritime Cadet Corps which this year enrolled a notable increase of female students onto its programme.”

Thanks to the participation and support of the many organisations taking part in the first Maritime SheEO conference, 100 trees were planted in a new Miyawaki Forest in India. This 100 tree grove will help offset 2,500kgs of carbon every year - another example of how shipping is playing its part in building a sustainable future.

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Women in Maritime - Finding our Space

Seafaring remains an attractive option for all genders The Bahamas notices a sharp rise in the number of females enrolling into its Cadet Corps programme The BMA is delighted to announce that the popularity of its Maritime Cadet Corps continues unabated, despite the restrictions imposed by COVID-19 throughout much of the past year. More significant still is the high number of female cadets signing up for the three-year programme.

The number of females joining the corps underlines the success of World Maritime Day 2019’s theme of ‘Empowering Women in the Maritime Community’. The split to date in students enrolling for the 2020/2022 course stands at 45% female and 55% male. It is also clear evidence that the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5 - Gender Equality (Achieve Gender Equality and Empower all Women and Girls) - is gaining traction in The Bahamas. And it is not simply the quantity of girls that is significant, as 65% of the cadets winning outstanding awards at the end of the 2019/2020 academic year were female, demonstrating a higher level of interest in the programme and outperforming their male counterparts.

Capacity building for the future is a BMA mandate and a key goal for our Corporate Social Responsibility and The Bahamas Maritime Cadet Corps (BMCC) plays a vital role in our efforts to achieve that. We are all particularly pleased to see that female students are signing up in high numbers and are more than demonstrating their competence and capability to be employed in this sector.

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The Bahamas Maritime Cadet Corps is delighted to welcome three new members to the team Clayton Curtis

On December 16, 2019, Clayton Curtis took the helm as National Coordinator of the BMCC after serving as the Island Coordinator in Grand Bahama for the previous 10 years.

His background in the maritime industry includes a B.Sc. in Marine Transportation/ Transportation Management; ocean-going experience on bulk carriers trading throughout the Atlantic Basin; extensive experience in Port Management and as General Manager of a cruise line operating between South-east Florida (USA) and Grand Bahama. He also holds an MBA from Nova Southeastern University and hopes to finally get around to completing his Doctoral studies - soon!

His interests are wide ranging - he is immersed in the Anglican (Episcopal) Church, is the Founding Director of the internationally acclaimed Grand Bahama Chorale and has served several terms as the District Commissioner for the Grand Bahama District of the Scout Association of The Bahamas.

He is also involved in Junior Achievement and Kiwanis Sponsored Youth.

Kenneth Sands Kenneth Sands is a 35-year veteran of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force with extensive travel experience within and outside of The Bahamas, both receiving training and as deployment in various aspects of peacekeeping/security as well as disaster relief.

Known for his strong stance on discipline, he has extensive experience in classroom instruction with the RBDF with special emphasis on fire-fighting and safety. He is capable of instructing in multiple areas/disciplines.

He is engaged as the Assistant Coordinator of the BMCC and fills the void left by the passing of Mr. Leroy Whylly in 2020.

Wayde Hanna A 36-year veteran of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF), Wayde Hanna’s duties within the BMCC combine Office Assistant with instructor to the 11th grade BMCC cadets.

In addition, he serves as an instructor with the Bahamas Maritime Training Institute, the primary Bahamian institution providing instruction and training for the STCW. He has been affiliated with the cadet corps since 2016.

As a member of the RBDF he served as a part of the force’s training team, making him uniquely qualified to teach several aspects of the BMCC programme.

Welcoming the latest ships to The Bahamas Register The BMA sees robust fleet growth in recent years Despite the recent challenges faced by the maritime sector, and industry in general, The BMA has been delighted to see strong growth in its fleet across the board. New registrations over the past year number some 60 vessels.

Underlining the diversity of The BMA fleet are the new buildings registering with a flag for the first time: three oil or chemical tankers; two LNG vessels; and one each of refrigerated cargo, bulk, FPSO and passenger vessels.

6%

Bulk Carrier

18%

Car Carrier/RoRo

5%

Tanker

14%

General Cargo

5%

Passenger/HSC

13%

Container

5%

LNG

8%

1%

Offshore

7%

Production Platform/ FPSO/FLNG/FSO

Yacht

Introducing some of the latest ships to our register

Giovanni Corrado

Built in Japan, on the island of Oshima, Saikai, Giovanni Corrado brings the total number of bulk carriers registered with The Bahamas to over 280 (representing 10,210,783 million in gross tonnage).

The vessel weighs in at 43,606 gross tonnage and 27,996 net tonnage. The Bahamas is pleased to be adding this bulk carrier to its register.

African Warbler is on song

New to The Bahamas Maritime Authority’s fleet of cargo ships, and permanently registered, is African Warbler. Built in Kure, Japan, African Warbler has a gross tonnage of 23,194 and a net tonnage of 12,444.

The BMA is delighted to welcome this newbuild to its fleet, bringing the total number of Bahamas registered general cargo ships to more than 200 with a total gross tonnage of 3,102,802 million.

The Caribbean Voyager Joining The BMA on the 7th January of this year, Caribbean Voyager increases the number of oil and chemical tankers in the registry to just under 250.

With a gross tonnage of 62658, net tonnage 36,150, the double hulled oil tanker is set to navigate the world. A warm welcome from The Bahamas to this Jeollanam-do built ship!

Virgin Voyages Scarlet Lady

joins the register The Bahamas continues to cement its position as the preferred flag for the passenger ship sector with the exciting addition of the luxury cruise ship ‘Scarlet Lady’ - a new entrant to the cruise industry led by Richard Branson’s Virgin Voyages.

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Recent Appointments

Leon Dorsett is appointed as Senior Deputy Director at The Bahamas Maritime Authority Congratulations to Leon Dorsett who has just been appointed Senior Deputy Director, Finance, IT

Deputy Director Leon Dorsett

& Office Management at The BMA having worked previously as Deputy Director. His role involves financial stewardship, budgeting, financial analyses, management accounting, financial reporting, and IT strategy for the Bahamas Maritime Authority.

Leon has spent 20 years with the Authority in many financial roles and was the key person responsible for the delivery of the Bahamas Online Registration Information System (BORIS). He also played a pivotal role in setting up the Greek, Hong Kong, and Japan Offices.

Wishing Lester Pink a very happy retirement Captain Lester Pink, who has been technical and compliance officer at The BMA working out of the London office since June 2010, retired from the Authority on the 15th June 2020.

Lester was a qualified master mariner and was a captain in the merchant navy. He spent more than 50 years working in the maritime industry.

Everyone at The BMA would like to wish Lester a very happy retirement.

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Captain Frank McNulty

Captain Kapila Malawwethanthri

Technical Compliance Officer Inspection & Surveys Department

Technical Compliance Officer Inspection & Surveys Department

Captain Frank McNulty has joined The BMA as Technical and Compliance Officer in the Inspections & Surveys Department.

His comprehensive background working on a variety of ships resulted in commands on cruise ferries in rapidly developing fleets and enabled him to build experience in auditing, pilotage, management and port state control.

The BMA extends a warm welcome to Captain Kapila Malawwethanthri, who has recently joined the Inspections and Surveys Department as Technical Compliance Officer.

Captain McNulty is keenly aware of the constraints that shipowners face and offers a conciliatory ear to timely and pragmatic technical compliance. The BMA welcomes him into the technical fold.

Captain Malawwethanthri, who obtained his Master Mariner certificate of competency in the UK, has had a long career in shipping and management. He also has experience as a company auditor and inspector in car carriers, bulk and LNG vessels.

With his additional skills as an ISM/ISO auditor, safety trainer and marine accident investigator, Captain Malawwethanthri is ideally placed for his new role at The BMA.

Recent Appointments

Captain Steve Bomgardner joins the growing team at The Bahamas Maritime Authority The BMA has underlined its commitment to servicing the needs of its clients by appointing Captain Steve Bomgardner as a Regional Director and Business Development Director. He is responsible for leading The BMA’s presence in North America as well as developing markets globally for the registry. His decision to join the Registry was influenced by The BMA’s long history of taking Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and adherence to standards very seriously.

Regional Director & Business Development Director Captain Steve Bomgardner

Captain Hutchinson said: “Steve’s appointment demonstrates our determination to continue enhancing our quality service delivery globally. His wealth of experience in maritime regulation, operations and delivering strategy and innovation, will feed directly into this commitment.

Furthermore, his previous work building up market share in the Americas and in other key ship owning centres makes him ideally qualified to strengthen and increase The Bahamas’ presence.

The BMA appoints Captain Ghulam Hussain as Deputy Director (Maritime Affairs) As a continuously serving member of the IMO council since 1999 and an active participant at all IMO meetings, The BMA has played a key leadership role in much of the maritime decision making that has taken place over the past few decades. We are therefore pleased to announce the appointment of Captain Ghulam Hussain as Deputy Director (Maritime Affairs) with responsibility for Bahamas representation at IMO and intergovernmental meetings. He will be taking over from Marie Caillerie whose contributions have been greatly appreciated by us all.

Deputy Director Captain Ghulam Hussain

Captain Hussain joins The BMA having recently held a similar position at the Nautical Institute where he was Technical Manager and Head of IMO Delegation. There he gained wide-ranging experience working within both Working and Correspondence Groups at the IMO. With more than 35 years of experience in the maritime field, Captain Hussain brings a breadth of expertise to The BMA.

Totka Rangelova

Charlotte Ward

Finance Assistant Finance Department

Marketing Manager Director’s Office

Totka Rangelova has joined BMA’s Finance Department as Accounts Assistant. She gained a Bachelor’s degree in Finance in Bulgaria and followed this up with a Master’s degree in International Accounting and Finance which she studied in the UK.

Much of the work relating to the recent re-brand of The BMA and the launch of the new website has been achieved thanks to the efforts of Charlotte Ward who joined The BMA as Marketing Manager late last year. Charlotte has a wealth of experience from working in-house with corporate shipping services groups and subsequently running her own marketing business where she focused on high profile maritime clients.

Totka has previously worked as Accounts Assistant in Accountancy practice where she gained wide-ranging experience. Her strong analytical, numerical and technical skills, as well as her commitment to delivering first class services, make her a valuable addition to The BMA team.

Charlotte will be working closely with Steve Bomgardner and the senior management team to raise the profile of The BMA around the world.

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FAQ

Here at the Bahamas we are asked numerous questions every day, although probably the most frequently asked is whether we ever go to The Bahamas? Sadly not for most of us!

Here are some of the questions that come up most frequently, of course there are countless more than we can show here but answers to many of the technical queries we receive can be found on our website www.bahamasmaritime.com. There you will also find expanded answers to some of those shown on this page.

Why do you say the Bahamas registry has one of the most competitive fees?

Are you a governmental body?

There are no initial registration fees as they are fully waived and many of our service fees are on par or below those of our competitors.

Our fee schedules are transparent and in the public domain with BMA Bulletin 81 detailing the fees charged for each type of service offered to clients.

The Bahamas Maritime Authority always works to achieve the best outcomes for its clients and identifies agreements that would be beneficial to our stakeholders including a reciprocal agreement between The Bahamas and the People's Republic of China (PRC) to strengthen cooperation across the shipping sector. The agreement is designed to reinforce and enhance the relationship between the two governments and gives Bahamian flagged vessels a preferential 28% discount on all port tonnage dues in China.

The Bahamas is also a signatory of the Convention of Private International Law of 1928 (Bustamante Code), a regional convention of American states which is financially beneficial for ships seeking to operate in the Brazilian offshore sector. Such operation is only available for vessels that are registered with either Brazil or another country’s flag which is a signatory to the Bustamante Code.

What types of vessels so you have in your flag?

We have all types of vessels in our fleet, from passenger ships, where we are market leaders, to general cargo which forms the largest percentage of our fleet, to bulk carriers, container ships, oil tankers, gas carriers, various types of offshore units and yachts.

Notably, when it comes to their most expensive assets, owners trust the Bahamas. For example, cruise liners carry the most expensive and precious commodity (‘human lives’) and the majority consider the Bahamas to be their preferred flag. The Bahamas is also a major player in the offshore sector which has some of the most technologically advanced ships.

The BMA is the government agency, established in July 1995 by The Bahamas Maritime Authority Act, responsible for ships registered in the Commonwealth of The Bahamas. The Authority falls under the auspices of the Ministry for Transport and Local Government and all funds go towards maintaining our quality customer service delivery, enabling compliance with our international commitments and building national capacity as a part of our corporate social responsibility and strategic, long-term sustainability objectives.

How long does it take to register a ship with the Bahamas flag?

Registering with The Bahamas is easy and efficient. We continue to introduce additional online services to enhance our customer service and also to align with our environmental goals. In fact, providing all registration requirements have been satisfied, a ship may be registered within an hour.

To further speed up the process, we encourage our clients to submit draft copies of the registration documents to us for our review and comments, before the documents are executed and notarised.

With offices worldwide, The Bahamas Registration Team continues to be available to provide support and assistance throughout the registration process with the customer retaining the option of which office to use for transactions.

Can mortgage transactions be undertaken at any BMA office?

Absolutely! The original notarised Mortgage Registration Form R208 can be registered at any BMA office. Our dedicated registration staff in Nassau, London, New York, Hong Kong, Piraeus and Japan are equipped to register, discharge and/or transfer a Bahamian mortgage on production of the original, duly executed and attested, mortgage instrument.

It is usual for the mortgage instrument to be attested by a Notary Public.

Contact us Nassau: +1 242 356-5772

London: +44 20 7562 1300

Hong Kong: +852 2522 0095

nassau@bahamasmaritime.com

london@bahamasmaritime.com

hongkong@bahamasmaritime.com

New York: +1 212 829 0221

Piraeus: +30 201 429 3802

Tokyo: +81 3 6402 5274

newyork@bahamasmaritime.com

greece@bahamasmaritime.com

tokyo@bahamasmaritime.com

flagnews.bahamasmaritime.com