Jamaica’s maritime community is this week welcoming a delegation from Belize in order to share information and best practice in relation to shipping operations, environmental compliance and the blue economy.

Led by the Hon Michel Chebat, Minister of Public Utilities, Energy, Logistics and e-Governance, the seven-strong delegation arrived on Sunday and will spend this week visiting key areas of Jamacia’s maritime infrastructure to see first-hand how they operate.

Today the Belize team visited the Maritime Authority of Jamaica (MAJ) in Kingston which is responsible for the administration and enforcement of Jamaica’s shipping policy. It also enunciated part of a maritime development policy which focused on the structured expansion of ship registration and crewing activities with the objective of maximizing the potential of the Maritime Sector in contributing to the socio-economic well being of the nation. They were briefed on roles and responsibilities of the Maritime Authority of Jamaica before enjoying lunch with key MAJ staff. They also visited Port Bustamante to observe Port State Control in operation.

MAJ Marine Surveyor Kenre Valentine is acting as Liaison Officer for the visit. He said: “We are delighted to welcome Belize to our shores and privileged to be able to share with them our knowledge and expertise in maritime administration.”

Today (Feb 22) they will call on the Minister of Transport and Mining, the Honourable Audley Shaw, followed by a trip to Jamaica’s industry-leading Caribbean Maritime University (CMU) where they will meet CMU President, Professor Evan Duggan, tour the facilities, and learn how Jamaica trains its maritime cadets to prepare them for a range of careers including merchant shipping and cruise-sector hospitality roles. Today’s programme will conclude with the viewing of a small vessel inspection administered by the MAJ.

For the remainder of the visit the delegation will be hosted by the Port Authority of Jamaica, before departing early on Friday morning.

MAJ Director General, Rear Admiral (ret’d) Peter Brady said: “As a long-standing member of the Council of the International Maritime Organisation, Jamaica has a responsibility to share its experience with the wider Caribbean region to enable our whole maritime community to benefit from Jamaica’s international perspective.

“As an island state, Jamaica considers itself as a responsible maritime State which believes in the spirit of technical cooperation and the sharing of its expertise with regional States, of which Belize is one and also a partner country.”