Capt. Dwain Hutchinson
Managing Director and CEO of The BMA
As we have progressed through the first quarter of 2024, we have seen a continuation of the threats to seafarers that started to increase from October 2023. Unfortunately, like many other Flags, our fleet hasn’t been immune and The Bahamas flagged ship, GALAXY LEADER, was the victim of a hijacking. The BMA team, along with the entire maritime community, is concerned about the escalation of attacks in the Red Sea that unfortunately recently resulted in the first seafarers’ death onboard the TRUE CONFIDENCE. There was also the environmental damage resulting from the sinking of the ship RUBYMAR.
These incidents undermine the rights of safe navigation through the region, compromise the marine environment, and threaten the safety of the innocent seafarers onboard the affected ships. The implications of the world’s conflicts are sure to affect maritime and negatively impact the global economy for the months to come as, whilst alternative routes can be plotted to avoid the worst trouble spots, the world will be forced to accept a slowdown in supply chains and an increase in costs for goods.
The IMO’s World Maritime Theme for 2024, ”Navigating the future: safety first”, is particularly apt as the next generation of potential seafarers ponder maritime as their future career. We must all work together to enhance maritime security, ensure that we protect our oceans so they can continue to support the abundant wildlife that coexists with shipping, and create the regulatory environment that will allow the industry to develop safely. To achieve a sustainable future, it is vital that we make sure that seafarers feel supported and valued so that we will continue to attract new recruits to our vibrant industry.
We are pleased to welcome the new IMO Secretary General, Arsenio Dominguez. We share his vision which includes effective implementation of the IMO Greenhouse Gas (GNG) strategy. Climate change remains one of The Bahamas’ key foreign policy objectives and we will continue to play our role proactively promoting the IMO GHG strategy.
In recent months, The BMA has significantly increased its visits around the globe and will continue to actively engage with stakeholders during the coming year, holding regular meetings to ensure it continues to deliver the quality of service that meets, and exceeds customers’ expectations and needs. One significant area that the team is working on is capitalising on the latest technology which will allow us to introduce more online capabilities that not only improve efficiency but also increase cost effectiveness while simultaneously reducing our environmental footprint.
Sustainability and the environment must hold prime position throughout the years to come. The BMA remains aware that we are part of a global industry which makes use of one of the world’s most beautiful assets – its oceans – and we are also part of a nation that relies on the natural beauty surrounding it for its tourist industry.
The BMA team will continue to work with our shipowners, industry group and other maritime stakeholders as we strive to ensure that our ships and the seafarers onboard can safely and securely operate globally without any delays.
