At the 27th Session of the IMO Assembly recently held in London, The Bahamas was elected to the Council of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) under Category “C”. According to the IMO The Bahamas exemplifies the highest credentials in each of the areas considered essential for such status: that is, states which have special interests in maritime transport or navigation and whose election to the council will ensure the representation of all major geographic areas of the world. The Bahamas has served on the council from 1991 to 1995 and from 1999 to the present. It became a member in 1976 and has acceded to the major international conventions administered by the IMO as well as the 1982 Law of the Sea Convention.

Bahamas High Commissioner and Permanent Representative to the IMO Paul Farquharson headed the Bahamian delegation to the IMO assembly. He was accompanied by Bahamas Maritime Authority officials, including Chairman Ian Fair, Vice Chairman Peter Goulandris, and Director and CEO Commodore Davy Rolle.

Chairman Ian Fair addressed the 27th Session, highlighting The Bahamas’ long and distinguished history as a maritime nation. Currently, The Bahamas accommodates 56 million gross tons on its Ship Registry and maintains an enviable Port State Control (PSC) record, being on the White List of every PSC Memorandum of Understanding.

The Chairman assured the assembly that The Bahamas highly values its membership in the IMO. He said, “We will continue to work constructively with all members of this organisation in pursuit of the goals of the assembly. Moreover, we will work with all to ensure they are fully addressed.”