Bahamas Maritime Authority

Wishing you a happy and healthy festive break! https://lnkd.in/ecN2-UWG

BMA joins guests at the Lloyds List Greek Shipping Awards: The Bahamas Maritime Authority, represented by Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, Middle East and Black Sea, Dimitri Tsiftsis, along with Licensing Assistant STCW, Efstathia Gkinni, and Technical and Compliance Officer, Christos Papastathopoulos, was proud to be present at the 21st Lloyds List Greek Shipping Awards which took place on Friday 6 December. Leaders from all sections of the Greek shipping market were present at the event with approximately 1100 in attendance. A number of existing and new clients were invited to join the BMA table at the glamorous dinner and we would like to extend our thanks for their company during the evening. In total, 20 awards were presented to reward innovation and initiatives including the promotion of green solutions, attraction of young people into the industry, and the safekeeping of seafarers and vessels, not to mention rescuing people following a shipwreck. Our congratulations go to all the winners.

The Bahamas Maritime Authority was proud to participate in the Plaques & Keys ceremony aboard Virgin Voyages’ Resilient Lady during her inaugural call to Nassau Cruise Port on November 26, 2024. Like her sister ships, Scarlet Lady and Valiant Lady, the vessel is flagged with The Bahamas registry. Representing The BMA at this milestone event were Katie Clarke, Registrar and Director of the Nassau Office, and Leah Davis, Marketing Manager. The occasion marked a significant step in strengthening partnerships within the maritime and tourism sectors.

The Bahamas Maritime Authority (BMA) is delighted to announce that it has been accorded the status of Cooperating Non-Member (CNM) by the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC0) for the year 2025. The WCPFC is responsible for the management of high seas fishing activities and conservation efforts in the convention area. This decision recognises The Bahamas’ continuing commitment to transparency, regulatory compliance and better control over fishing-related activities by the vessels in its fleet. The BMA, in collaboration with the Bahamas Department of Marine Resources, ensures regulatory control, monitoring and licensing activities in establishing and maintaining the global transportation authorisation programmes for fisheries cargoes. As a result of achieving this status from the WCPFC, Bahamian reefer carriers are permitted to carry cargoes which originated from within the WCPFC regulatory area, extending the range of commercial opportunities available to the Bahamian fleet. Captain Dwain Hutchinson, Managing Director and CEO of The BMA, said: “We are determined to support the work of Regional Fisheries Management Organisations and so are delighted to have achieved CNM status once again. It is in the interests of the entire industry that fishing remains sustainable and we are keen to play our part to ensure the success of marine conservation efforts.”

Celebrating Maritime Excellence: Courtesy Call on Minister Coleby-Davis The Bahamas Maritime Authority proudly presented its commemorative album to the Hon. JoBeth Coleby-Davis, Minister of Energy and Transport, during a recent courtesy call. This milestone publication celebrates The Bahamas' rich maritime history over the past 50 years. Chairman Jacqueline M. Simmons, who led the Board of Directors during the visit, remarked, “This album is a testament to the resilience and excellence of The Bahamas’ maritime sector and its pivotal role in shaping our nation’s economic and global standing. We are proud to share this legacy as we continue building a sustainable maritime future.” Group photo L–R are Bahamas Maritime Authority Board Members Rashad Adderley, Valentino Hamilton, Jacqueline M. Simmons, Chairman; Hon. JoBeth Coleby-Davis, Minister of Energy and Transport; Donella Bodie, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Energy & Transport; Senator Ja’Ann Major; Leah Davis, BMA Marketing Manager; and LaMarque Drew. Photography by Unseen Media.

Congratulating WISTA UK on 50 remarkable years of championing diversity and leadership in the maritime industry! The Bahamas Maritime Authority was proud to be represented by Bella Bonney at last night's milestone celebration, which was made even more special by the presence of three of WISTA UK’s founding members. Here's to many more years of inspiring progress and fostering inclusion across the global maritime community. 🌍⚓🎉 WISTA UK

The Bahamas Maritime Authority (BMA) was proud to take part in the 8th Hong Kong Maritime Week, held from 17–23 November 2024. Representing the BMA were Regional Director for Asia, Capt. Jahangir Hussain, along with Administration Officer, Yuki Leung, and Secretary, Katherine Lai. Organized by the Hong Kong Maritime and Port Board in collaboration with co-organizers, this highly anticipated event highlighted Hong Kong’s position as a leading international maritime centre under the theme "Navigating to a Greener Future." The week-long program offered exceptional opportunities for networking and engagement with key stakeholders across Hong Kong’s maritime sector. Attendees included industry leaders and experts from around the globe, who explored emerging trends and innovative approaches shaping the global maritime industry. The BMA team was pleased to contribute to discussions that align with our shared goals of sustainability, innovation, and global collaboration.

BMA Bolsters Training for Maritime Investigators: The safety of seafarers and their vessels is always top of the agenda for The Bahamas Maritime Authority and, in many cases, safety innovations come as the result of the investigations that follow a marine casualty. As a leading Flag, The BMA’s investigations team conducts investigations involving Bahamas-flagged vessels or those which happen in Bahamian waters. Led by Deputy Director Nick Dowden, the team plays a vital role both regionally and globally in investigating why a casualty happened to identify what the industry should learn and makes recommendations to improve outcomes in the future. In September, Nick took an active role at the Marine Accident Investigators’ International Forum (MAIIF) in Beijing, leading a session on casualties involving expedition cruise vessels – a subdivision of the passenger vessel sector that has seen huge growth in recent years. More recently, on behalf of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), Nick was in Suriname delivering a regional workshop on casualty investigation, working alongside Marcel Ayeko, lead consultant, and Leedwine David Pichon, Implementation Support Officer at the IMO. The workshop, run under the IMO’s Integrated Technical Cooperation Programme, was developed to strengthen casualty investigation capability in the Caribbean region and facilitate greater cooperation between neighbouring states. Also attending the workshop as delegates were Nassau-based BMA Investigator Larez Pinder and Craig Curtis from the Bahamas Port Department.

The Bahamas Maritime Authority (BMA) had the privilege of presenting its recently published commemorative album to Prime Minister, The Right Honourable Philip Davis during a meaningful courtesy call. The album, which celebrates the rich history and ongoing contributions of the maritime industry to The Bahamas, served as a foundation for discussions on the Authority’s strategic initiatives. Topics included strengthening The Bahamas’ competitive advantage in the international shipping industry. Other key areas of focus included strengthening seafarer welfare initiatives, advancing local educational collaborations, and addressing regulatory frameworks to support industry growth. This engagement underscored the BMA’s and the Government of The Bahamas’ unwavering commitment to maritime excellence and its vital role in shaping The Bahamas’ global standing in the industry. Pictured L-R are Leah R. Davis, BMA Marketing Manager; Jacqueline M. Simmons, BMA Chairman; Prime Minister, The Right Honourable Philip Davis; Dario Lundy- Mortimer, BMA Director. Photo credit: Unseen Media, Bahamas

BMA Welcomes Disney Treasure! The Bahamas Maritime Authority (BMA), represented by Kenneth Carey, BMA Technical Officer, proudly celebrated the arrival of Disney Treasure at the Nassau Cruise Port. The vessel, proudly flagged with The Bahamas, was welcomed with a commemorative plaque exchange. Special recognition was given to Bahamian Third Officer Breann Rahming, who had the distinguished honour of hoisting the Bahamian flag as the ship officially joined Disney Cruise Line. Pictured L to R are Captain Minnie Mouse; Kenneth Carey, BMA Technical Officer; Third Officer Breann Rahming, Disney Cruise Line; and Captain Marco Nogara, Disney Cruise Line.