THE NEWSLETTER OF THE BAHAMAS MARITIME AUTHORITY SUMMER 2011 • ISSUE NO. 27 THE BAHAMAS GOVERNMENT HAS AGREED TO EXTEND, INDEFINITELY, THE REGISTRATION FEE WAIVER Bahamas flag FOR ALL VESSELS COMING easy choice ONTO THE REGISTER. for Chartworld Chartworld’s latest ship to raise the Bahamas flag is the 80,000 DWT bulk carrier ANASTASIA K which was delivered in China and registered with The Bahamas in April this year. When added to the company’s recent When asked, “Why the Bahamas purchase of CMA CGM AFRICA ONE, CMA CGM flag?” Chartworld’s MD, Antonios AFRICA TWO, CMA CGM AFRICA THREE and Faraklas, in an exclusive interview for CMA CGM AFRICA FOUR, which were the Flag, said that the company’s registered with the BMA in 2010, 88% of relationship with the Bahamas “When you choose the flag of the vessel, you Chartworld’s total fleet – almost 1.73 million Register went back to the early 80’s when the want to take into consideration as many DWT - is now registered with the Bahamas flag. Register was fairly new but growing fast. “At factors as possible,” he continued, “and the the time, information collected from various good record of the flag and its reputation sources was very positive so we started with a amongst both shipowners and port authorities couple of vessels in order to see the service for is definitely taken into account. If you combine ourselves. In the meantime, we tried other this with reasonable prices and good service Registers so that we were in a position to then the choice is made very easily. We compare the service and cost for similar believe that this is what the Bahamas Registry vessels,” he said. “We were very positively has to offer to all its clients and the Registry surprised by the good communication with should continue to value these factors and the people of the Bahamas Register and their enhance them even further in the future.” fast response and it became easy for our group to decide that the Bahamas Registry fitted our “We believe that both the flag and the class of CMA CGM AFRICA TWO needs better than other Registries.” the vessel are our partners and consultants and we are the receivers of invaluable information from their vast experience and expertise. We are enjoying the open line of communication between us and the BMA and their willingness Bahamas - Paris MOU to be flexible when the circumstances are difficult or out of the ordinary and we hope "Low Risk" status that this will continue in the future. At the The Paris Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control (Paris MOU) implemented its same time we are provided with the New Inspection Regime (NIR) on 1st January 2011. One of the foundations of the new approach opportunity to exchange information and is a revised method of targetting visiting vessels based on a ship risk profile. The Bahamas has share views and opinions with other completed its IMO audit and is now shown on the Paris MOU website as being one of the shipowners under the same flag about both the relatively small number of States which has achieved the "Low Risk" status." common problems faced by all of us and the challenges of the future.” www.bahamasmaritime.com Project Horizon– watch-keeping fatigue It’s one of the shipping industry’s most pressing safety issues and now, ground-breaking research, being conducted at Warsash Maritime Academy, is due to lift the lid on some of the key questions surrounding the causes and effects of seafarer fatigue. Director’s message Maritime regulators, ship owners and trade I’m pleased to say that this year’s Bahamas unions all have a stake in the findings, which International Maritime Conference and will be the first to use marine simulators to Trade Show (BIMCATS) in February was a focus specifically on officers’ watch patterns. truly unique experience. For the first time Although research has been carried out on ever, The Bahamas simultaneously tiredness and performance in other industries – including aviation and road hosted not only BIMCATS but also the transport – far less focus has been directed Marine Accident Investigators International on the commercial shipping industry, where Forum (MAIIF) and a meeting of the seafarers’ fatigue can have huge Caribbean MOU. consequences on the health of officers, passenger safety, commercial loss and the Professor Mike Barnett It provided a wonderful opportunity not only to marine environment. cargoes and watch keeping on tankers, have showcase the Bahamas cluster but also to give a The ¤3.78m two and a half year Project been signing up to the project from all over very positive boost to the country’s economy. Horizon - funded by the EU and supported Europe for the seven day “voyage”. The week’s activities embraced our shipyards, by leading companies and regulatory bodies Freeport’s container port and cruise terminal and Former chief officer, Professor Mike Barnett, - sees Warsash Maritime Academy working other related services and, as described by Jessica heads up the project for Solent University. He alongside Sweden’s Chalmers University of Taylor on page 6, the practical experience of Technology, and the Stress Research was a recent speaker at the BIMCATS inspecting ships in dry dock was invaluable. Institute in Stockholm, to measure the conference in Grand Bahama and explains: As I mentioned in the last issue of the Flag, the effects of fatigue during simulator tests on “There are increasing concerns over human BMA was due to have an IMO member state audit. seafaring volunteers. During the tests, safety, environmental damage and The audit has now been completed and therefore volunteers take part in simulated seagoing commercial loss due to watch officer fatigue, when completing the Paris MOU ship risk profile and port-based operations on bridge, engine with the UK’s Marine Accident Investigation calculator, Owners and Managers of Bahamas and liquid cargo handling simulators, while branch citing it as a possible significant cause ships can select the "Yes" option to the question researchers measure brain activity, and of collisions and groundings. But very little is "Is the Flag IMO-audited? capture other test data, to evaluate the known about how different watch patterns, for The global economy is still sluggish and impact that fatigue has on their decision- instance, six hours on, six off, influence recovery following the world-wide recession is making and performance. performance. By placing experienced deck and progressing at a slow pace, much slower than The data will be analysed at the Stress engine room watch keepers in our simulators, most of us would like. This has many Research Institute at Stockholm University, we can see the effect of different watch implications for the shipping industry. With with the ultimate objective of developing a keeping patterns on levels of fatigue in demand in Asia growing and consumption in fatigue management toolkit and making European waters over a seven day, 24 hour the West falling, coupled with the expected recommendations to shipping companies period at sea and in port. We’re very hopeful oversupply of tonnage over the next few years, and seafarers on improving work patterns. that the study will provide some scientific basis we are in for even more challenging times. Serving deck officers and engine room watch for fatigue mitigation programmes, which is Antonios Faraklas, Chartworld’s MD sums it up. keeping officers, involved with handling oil absolutely vital for the shipping industry.” “We are following with concern the existing global new-building programme as we see that the demand is more than covered by the current Bahamas presents £1,394,500 supply and we are hesitant at this point to proceed with committing to new projects.” cheque for 2011 IMO Assessment This brings me to my final thoughts – the fight against piracy. Whilst we applaud the work of the multi-national naval force in providing protection Left to right, Commodore Davy F Rolle, for merchant shipping in the Gulf of Aden and the Director/CEO, Bahamas Maritime Authority, Efthimios E Mitropoulos, Indian Ocean, we cannot simply sit back and do Secretary General, International nothing ourselves. Ships and crew are still being Maritime Organization, High taken and whilst the lack of a legitimate Somalian Commissioner, Paul Farquharson, QPM, Bahamas High Commission, government is the fundamental problem, we in Michael Guy, Second Secretary/Vice the shipping industry can and should play our part. Consul, Bahamas High Commission. But we must all be on board – from governments and flag states to shipowners and ships’ Masters. We must all continue to work together especially to protect the safety of innocent seafarers. See an owner’s experience on page 7. 2 THE FLAG IMONews Piracy – the next steps? BMA attended CMA Shipping on 22-24 March 2011. Significant among the many topics for discussion was the inclusion of piracy, which caused many present to express strong opinions over the worsening situation, evidenced by an escalation of pirate tactics, including murder! A majority of delegates at the meeting were provided guidance in order to ensure that arms was the exceptional preparedness by the extremely disappointed at the lack of positive are carried on board in a responsible and crew for such an event. The industry Best international action to eradicate this 18th controlled manner. Owners should refer to Management Practice was implemented to century threat to 21st century global trade. BMA information bulletin 128. The Bahamas the fullest extent on board and the crew Recent international meetings about piracy has also co-sponsored a paper with the retreated to the citadel in good time to avoid Marshall Islands to IMO’s Maritime Safety include on-going discussions at the United any close contact with the pirates.