ACMF
Under the theme ‘Talent in your backyard’, the American Caribbean Maritime Foundation (ACMF) will host its Annual Gala and Anchor Awards on Thursday, November 2, at the Lauderdale Yacht Club in Fort Lauderdale, to highlight shipping industry human resources in the Caribbean. Confirmed major sponsors are Tropical Shipping, Royal Caribbean, Roland and Loretta Malins-Smith and Kestrel Group.
The Distinguished Patron is Arya Ali, First Lady of Guyana. President of Tropical Shipping Tim Martin is the gala chair and he will be joined by top brass from the cargo and cruise sector, and their suppliers, to celebrate the Caribbean Maritime University (CMU), which has provided the region with over four decades of world-class maritime education and training. The CMU has a student population of over four thousand from across the Caribbean, with over 250 professors and lecturers.
ACMF is CMU’s largest private donor – funding 142 full-tuition scholarships and grants, to date, awarded to students in nine CARICOM nations through five academic partners across the region. “It is an honor to be part of such a vibrant sector and to be an agent of change in the shipping sector”, says Geneive Brown Metzger, ACMF President. “We owe a debt of gratitude to our donors.” she says. Among them are Roland and Loretta Malins-Smith, Royal Caribbean Group, Seaboard Marine, Saltchuk Family of Companies, Tropical Shipping, Seacor Island Lines, Kotug Seabulk Maritime, Kingston Wharves, Kestrel Group, Norwegian Cruise Line, Nassau Cruise Port, Manzanillo International Terminal, Shell LNG, DP World, Rio Haina Port, Laparkan, MSC Cruises, the Shipping Association of Barbados, Port of Miami, to name a few.
CMF SEA TIME INTERNSHIP PROGRAM
Thanks to the leadership of Rick Murrell, Senior Vice President and Managing Director at Saltchuk, the ACMF launched a Sea Time Cadet Internship program earlier this year. Under a partnership with OM Caribbean – the parent company of Logos Hope, a floating hospital serving the southwest pacific – two cadets from the Caribbean Maritime University, Sekou Forbes (BEng, Marine Engineering) and Jermaine Henry (BSC, Marine Transportation), spent six and 12 months, respectively, getting hands-on experience.
The initiative is also a first for OM Caribbean, which relies on professional medical practitioners and volunteers with a host of skills to deliver on its mission. “Our sea-bound cadets must have on board experience to qualify to work on ships, so we stepped outside of the box beyond traditional cruise and cargo vessels to find these opportunities”, according to Dr Genieve Brown Metzger, ACMF President.
TRINIDAD & TOBAGO
Sometimes considered the most beautiful ship in the world, the Italian Navy’s Amerigo Vespucci paid a visit to Port of Spain in September. The vessel had previously called into Cartagena and Santo Domingo.
The full-rigged, three-masted,Amerigo Vespucci was built in 1931, has 26 canvas sails and carries a crew of up to 450 (including midshipmen).
Caribbean Maritime thanks Wazim Mohammed for supplying the images of the Amerigo Vespucci in and off Port of Spain.
CANOPÉE
Canopée, the wind-assisted RoRo vessel designed and built to transport the Ariane space rocket from Europe to Guyane has been nominated for the Maritime Ship of the Year Award 2023.
Built by Neptune Marine for client Jifmar Offshore Services, Canopée is the world’s first newbuild hybrid industrial wind-powered RoRo vessel. The combination of diesel propulsion and wind assistance on a RoRo vessel of this size (121 meters long and 22 meters wide) marks a major step forward in the decarbonization strategy for industrial shipping. With four wings, the ship aims for a 30% reduction in fuel consumption.
The award ceremony is scheduled for 6 November, as part of the Maritime Awards Gala, which will take place at the Ahoy Rotterdam convention center.
JAMAICA
Claudia Grant, Deputy Director General of the Maritime Authority of Jamaica (MAJ), was elected Chair of the Sub Committee on Implementation of IMO Instruments (III) during the ninth session of the Sub Committee held from 31 July to 4 August at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) headquarters in London.
Grant said: “It is indeed a pleasure and an honor for me and my country to be tasked to serve this very important sub-committee, and I thank you all for your support in carrying out the work of this sub-committee and I look forward to your support in the future.”
The IMO Sub Committee on III is the medium by which the International Maritime Organization (IMO) assists Flag States, especially the newer less experienced ones, to improve their systems and capacity to implement the various IMO Conventions, Codes and Guidelines. The Sub-Committee’s mandate has been broadened from its focus on flag state implementation to now embrace port and coastal State obligations.
JAMAICA
Jamaica and Canada have signed a Reciprocal Recognition Agreement to enable seafarers from the two countries to work on ships sailing under the Jamaican or Canadian flags.
The agreement was signed at the London headquarters of the International Maritime Organization by Joanna Manger, Director General, Marine Safety & Security at Transport Canada, and Rear Admiral (retd) Peter Brady, Director General of the Maritime Authority of Jamaica.
Admiral Brady commented: “This is a milestone for both our countries’ seafarers and indeed our respective maritime and transport administrations. Utilising the facility of the STCW Convention we are able to allow our professional mariners to legally work onboard the ships that are flagged by our two countries. For Jamaica this is very important so that our seafarers get the opportunity to work on Canadian ships and be paid decent wages.”
JAMAICA
The Ocean Cleanup’s Interceptor 011 has been busy at Tivoli Gully, Kingston, collecting trash with the help of partners Clean Harbours Jamaica and the GraceKennedy Foundation.
Currently, The Ocean Cleanup has five Interceptors in Kingston, capturing trash, benefitting local fishing communities, and acting as educational tools to help drive change across the city.
ANTIGUA & BARBUDA
Dona Regis-Prosper (see personality profile CM issue 44) has left her position as general manager Antigua Cruise Port to take up a new role as Secretary General and Chief Executive Officer of the Caribbean Tourism Organization.
Ms Regis-Prosper has already been busy in her new role presenting some of her initial plans for leading the intergovernmental body that serves as the tourism development agency for 25 Caribbean countries and territories.
KING OCEAN SERVICES
King Ocean Services has announced the reopening of its US-Maracaibo service.
Relaunched at the end of August, King Ocean Services has weekly sailings from Port Everglades to Maracaibo, Venezuela.
BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS
Crowley has acquired Tamarind Consolidated, a logistics services company operating between the US and the British Virgin Islands in a merger enhancing end-to-end supply chain capabilities for the Caribbean region.
The acquisition will transition Tamarind’s operations and services, including warehousing and non-vessel operating common carrier (NVOCC) services, to Crowley. The expansion complements US-based Crowley’s existing maritime and logistics solutions and will expand solutions for customers in Virgin Gorda and surrounding BVI locations. Tamarind President Ralph Nazario will transition to Crowley in a consulting role.
“Since 1985, Tamarind has offered containerized cargo transportation and related services that provide customized solutions that customers depend on between the US and the British Virgin Islands,” Nazario said. “Crowley has the capabilities and technology to elevate the service we offer to the importers in Virgin Gorda, and I am confident the evolution by merging with Crowley will provide our customers with the customer service and logistics capabilities they need to succeed and grow.”
“Tamarind and Crowley are a natural fit with our shared understanding of the supply chain needs of customers in the British Virgin Islands and the companies’ commitment to being a lasting partner for customers,” said Brett Bennett, senior vice president and general manager at Crowley Logistics. “This is an exciting expansion and we look forward to building on the success of Tamarind so customers can benefit from the efficiencies, scale and technology available at Crowley.”
SURINAME
The construction of a new berthing facility to accommodate the larger 56-meter-length French ferry Le Malani is under way. This project aims to expand maritime infrastructure and enhance connectivity for increased passenger and car/cargo traffic between Suriname and Guyane. The construction of the new berth in Albina marks a significant milestone in strengthening the connections between Suriname and Guyane across the Maroni/Marowijne River. Le Malani makes 68 crossing each week between Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni and Albina.
JAMAICA
Kingston Wharves (KWL) took a major leap in achieving its nearshoring ambitions by signing a 20-year deal with San Diego-headquartered PriceSmart for the company to extend its partnership. Pricesmart will occupy space in KWL’s 28,000 square meter Integrated Modular Warehouse Complex when its first phase of 12,000 square meter is completed in Q1 2024.
KWL’s CEO Mark Williams and PriceSmart’s Country Manager Tara Kisto signed the new agreement.
PANAMA
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) Council voted to appoint Arsenio Antonio Dominguez Velasco of the Republic of Panama, for an initial four-year term, as next Secretary-General. He will succeed South Korea’s Kitack Lim on 1 January 2024, subject to the IMO Assembly’s approval.
Naval architect Arsenio Antonio Dominguez Velasco will be the first Panamanian and Latin American candidate to hold the position and has more than 25 years of professional experience in the international maritime world. In addition to his contributions as Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Panama to the IMO, he is currently Director of the Marine Environment Protection Division of the IMO. He previously served as director of the Administrative Division and head of Cabinet and of the Organization, giving him the trajectory and experience required for his new position in London.
“It is a historic day that fills us with great pride,” said the President of the Republic of Panama, Laurentino Cortizo Cohen, who had formally proposed the candidacy of the country for the top post at the IMO under the slogan: “Taking the initiative for a united and better future”.
In a statement, Guy Platten, Secretary General of the International Chamber of Shipping, said: “It has been a great pleasure and privilege to work with Kitack Lim over the past eight years. Kitack steered the IMO successfully through challenging times, calmly and with direction, and everyone at the International Chamber of Shipping wishes Kitack every success in his future endeavours.
“We look forward to working with Arsenio Dominguez, and know that he will lead with equal measures of authority, purpose and compassion. The position of IMO Secretary General is not an easy one, and there are undoubtedly challenges ahead as the industry strives to meet the 2030, 2040 and 2050 targets, but it will be a pleasure to tackle these challenges head on with Mr Dominguez for a better and safer future for our industry and its people.”
It is understood that the Panamanian candidate won the final round of the IMO Council election with more than half of the total votes cast, ahead of runner-up candidates from Turkey and Finland with nominees from Bangladesh, the Dominican Republic, Kenya and China having either withdrawn just before the contest began or been eliminated in the three initial rounds of the vote.
SURINAME
The signing of the delivery of Phase 2 of the Suriname River Dredging Project took place in Paramaribo on Friday 4 August in the presence of President Chan Santokhi.
The dredging works for the deepening of the Suriname river and to maintain it at depth for the next two years have been carried out by the joint venture Boskalis Baggerbedrijf De Boer for the Ministry of Public Works in close cooperation with the Maritime Authority Suriname (MAS) and with ACE Consultancy as project manager.
The project has also involved the transfer of dredging knowledge to Surinamese students through the Boskalis Dredging Academy. Students from Anton de Kom University, the Polytechnic College Suriname and the Surinamese Maritime Institute, among others, participated in these courses. Boskalis also supports the coastal protection mangrove project ‘Weg naar Zee’ in a consortium with local and international specialists.
FLORIDA
Carlos Buqueras, Executive Director of SeaPort Manatee, has been elected as Chair of the The Florida Ports Council. Rounding out the new slate of officers for 2023-2025 are Hydi Webb, Port Director at PortMiami, as vice chair, and David Wirth of Port St. Pete (yacht marina) as Secretary/Treasurer.
THE BAHAMAS
Elnet Maritime has announced the opening of its latest office in Nassau, New Providence (see CM issue 44).
As Elnet maritime continues to grow, this expansion marks another milestone in its journey, dedicating itself to providing exceptional maritime services to our clients worldwide.
Read more from issue 50 >
