Bahamas Maritime Authority launches campaign for re-election to the International Maritime Organization (IMO)

The Bahamas, March 22, 2025 – Minister of Energy and Transport, the Hon. Jobeth Coleby-Davis attended  meetings in London, UK, in support of the Bahamas Maritime Authority’s launch of Bahamas Candidacy for re-election to the IMO under Category “C”.

The minister reported, “the importance of the country’s membership on the Council, is not only because of its active and regulatory leadership with the IMO at the Council and Committee level, but also because of its Shipping Register – recognised internationally for its quality – and the expectation of the ship owners of Bahamas-flagged vessels that the country retains a seat on the Council.”

During week of March 10, 2025 Minister Coleby-Davis, along with Minister of Foreign Affairs the Hon. Fred Mitchell, Ambassador Paul Rolle, BMA CEO Captain Hutchinson, Board Chair Jacqui Simmons, Deputy Chair Peter Goulandris and Port Controller Berne Wright met with the Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization, Mr. Arsenio Dominguez Velasco in discussing three important areas of concern: 1) Maritime Safety and Security- Environment; 2) Safety and Training of Seafarers; and 3) Equity and Diversification in the Maritime Sector.

Additionally, the Minister met with the following Excellencies:

1. AMBASSADOR OF BELGIUM TO THE UK – HIS EXCELLENCY MR. JEROEN COOREMAN;
2. AMBASSADOR OF SAUDI ARABIA TO THE UK – HIS EXCELLENCY HRH PRINCE KHALID bin BANDAR bin SULTAN AL SAUD;
3. AMBASSADOR OF QATAR TO THE UK – HIS EXCELLENCY SHEIK ABDULLAH bin MOHAMMED bin SAUD AL THANI;
4. AMBASSADOR OF COLUMBIA TO THE UK – EXCELLENCY ROY BARRERAS; and,
5. AMBASSADOR OF OMAN TO THE UK – EXCELLENCY BADR MOHAMMED BADR ALMANTHERI.

The minister stated: “These collaborative meetings were to discuss ways member states can work together on addressing matters related to maritime security, efficiency and digitization. Additionally, it was to encourage support for SIDS as some regulatory mandates focused on global transition to cleaner fuels by our vessels may have negative impacts and therefore member states are discussing a balanced and equitable approach to sustainability.”

(BIS Photos/Anthon Thompson)