The BMA’s Maritime Affairs team are The Bahamas Maritime Authority’s voice at regulatory meetings where they represent both The BMA and the broader Bahamas, ensuring the effective voice and participation of the government and Authority’s fleet owners and managers.
The department has a number of objectives which all relate to the Authority’s presence on key industry forums and its dealings with partners and stakeholders:
- Improve organisational efficiency and effectiveness at the IMO
- Consider Strategic Collaboration and Partnerships by identifying strategic partners and industry stake holders and ensuring these relationships include, but are not limited to, shipowners, related organisations, government, and inter-government agencies
- Consider the policy outcomes of such partnerships. Evaluate and adopt the same as contributions towards the implementation of the Bahamas National Maritime Policy
- Ensure that all such alliances and partnerships are approached with tact, respect and diplomacy and result in generating mutual benefit for the parties concerned
- Ensure the adopted global policies and procedures are promptly and accurately disseminated among relevant stakeholders by the respective departments
- Disseminate The Bahamas’ and The BMA’s messages and global influence to the maritime industry.
The work of the Maritime Affairs Department frequently revolves around the issue of sustainability. Protecting the environment and reducing Green House Gases are vital aims for the worldwide community but The Bahamas, a Small Island Developing State (SIDS) made up of more than 3,000 islands, cays and islets, is critically vulnerable to the issue of climate change and its associated threats. The Bahamas therefore strongly supports the need for a robust, uniform, global environmental strategy for the maritime sector, led by the IMO, that is aspirational, balanced, effective, and supportive of pragmatic solutions.
Fortunately for The Bahamas and other similarly located states, the wider maritime community is determined to take difficult decisions that are universally accepted, and which will play an important role in the global reduction of Green House Gases (GHG). Of course, it wasn’t an easy process to arrive at a strategy that can be adopted by all but the recent Marine Environment Protection Committee (MPEC) 80th meeting at the IMO did succeed in producing a revised GHG strategy for shipping.
The new strategy has the ambitious target of achieving net-zero GHG emissions from international shipping “BY or AROUND i.e close to, 2050” alongside a commitment to ensure an uptake of alternative zero and near-zero GHG fuels by 2030.
The uptake of alternative fuels will be heavily dependent on the progress to be made, most specifically regarding the development of these fuels and whether they are sufficiently available. Furthermore, there needs to be confidence amongst the shipping community that these alternative fuels are inherently safe and that mariners have received sufficient training to ensure that there is confidence in the new bunkering.
The Bahamas is broadly in agreement with proposals that suggest that a basket of measures is needed to reduce GHG emissions from international shipping and we expect that the overall strategy to be developed and finalised will include both economic and technical measures. Among the possibilities for inclusion in this wider ranging strategy might be a GHG levy, coupled with revenue disbursement mechanisms (feebate, fund etc.) with a GHG Fuel Standard (GFS). This would incentivise companies to speed up their transition to alternative fuels and countries to engage in capacity building and much needed research and development. The Bahamas is part of the Steering Committee which engages with the way forward in developing Market Based Measures.
The Bahamas is pleased that the revised strategy of 2023 is now substantially more ambitious and represents a significant step towards a greener planet
It is important to be are aware of pollution of our oceans and the amazing wildlife that lives within them. Certainly The Bahamas relies on its pristine waters to support its thriving tourist industry and so The BMA energetically supports a number of organisations that are active in the field of controlling marine pollution so that mariners can all play their part in protecting the oceans that support their livelihoods. Among these organisations are NAMEPA (North American Marine Environment Protection) which works with stakeholders including industry, governments and educational establishments to raise awareness among the public about the importance of protecting our oceans, and Eyesea, a non- profit organisation which is mapping marine pollution in order to protect the ocean. The BMA is an ambassador for both these organisations.
By making its voice heard in international forums such as the IMO and by engaging pro-actively with groups protecting our oceans, The Bahamas is doing all it can to keep maritime on track to achieve its goals and is hopeful that the fears of similar SIDs and LDCs can be allayed.
Notwithstanding the above, The BMA recognises that the period ahead will be critical in pursuing zero emissions with special emphasis on climate change, forging ahead with the development of new regulatory frameworks for items such as Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS) and keeping pace with technological developments that are rapidly evolving.
The Maritime Affairs Team will continue to develop further relationships and involvement with all IMO members, related industry members, establish and strengthen a seamless form of communications and interaction, and finally, disseminate The BMA’s messages and global influence to the maritime industry.
