Tanker Shipping & Trade, April 2011
‘Crew welfare is a fundamental flag state responsibility’

April 13, 2011
TankerShippingandTrade-April-2011

The Barbados Maritime Ship Registry (BMSR) has introduced measures designed to help ease the passage of vessels carrying armed guards, as well as compliance with the forthcoming Maritime Labour Convention (2006), says BMSR principal registrar, Chris Sawyer.

While owners are prepared to spend considerable amounts of money on defending their vessels and crews legally, there remains little evidence that there are sufficient properly organised security companies able to meet the demand. The Barbados Maritime Ship Registry (BMSR) has allowed armed guards to board its registered vessels since the middle of 2010. BMSR sees the safety of its ships and crew … continue reading

Filed Under: Piracy, Published, Tanker Shipping and Trade

SMI, March 2011 ‘Flagging up areas of concern’

March 30, 2011
SMI_March-2011

The Barbados Maritime Ship Registry (BMSR) took the decision to allow the boarding of armed guards on Barbados vessels from the middle of last year. This was in response to owners wishing to provide protection for their ships and crew, said BMSR’s principal registrar, Chris Sawyer.

“BMSR sees the safety of its ships and crew as the fundamental responsibility of a flag state and therefore refusal would have been a dereliction of that responsibility,” he said.“From the beginning of the ascendancy of piracy to an international problem, BMSR has felt the solutions being offered by the establishment have fallen short … continue reading

Filed Under: Piracy, Published, Ship Management International

TANKEROperator, January 2011 ‘MLC top of Barbados flag agenda’

January 13, 2011
TankerOperator---Jan-2011

“Our process of implementation will allow opportunity for the ship operators, the crews and the flag state inspectors to become accustomed with the required scope,” he explained.

Other issues concerning the recently reconvened Barbados Ship Owners and Managers Association (BSOMA) is the continually deteriorating security situationaffecting vessels trading lawfully and the apparent inability of governments to mount adequate protection to vessels.

“Barbados supports the work of the IMO in bringing shipping to the point of it making the industry’s contributions to the international effort,” Sawyer said.

Turning to the IMO’s voluntary member state audit scheme (VIMSAS), he said that Barbados … continue reading

Filed Under: Manning, Maritime Labour Convention, Published, TANKEROperator