Department of Maritime Affairs: Safety of Life at Sea Convention
~~Adz:Left~~ As a requirement of the Safety of Life at Sea Convention (SOLAS) and the Small Commercial Vessel Code (SCV) for the Caribbean, effective February 15, 2008, the owner, Charterer, Managing Director or Master of a passenger vessel (more than twelve passengers) on any type of voyage within the coastal waters of St.Kitts and Nevis shall keep accurate records of all persons which embark on and disembark from the vessel.
Such record must reflect the names, and gender distinguishing between adults, children and infants. These records shall be left ashore with a Representative of the Owner or Managing Operator of the vessel for use by the Department of Maritime Affairs and the St.Kitts and Nevis Defense Force Coast Guard in the event of an emergency at sea.
To facilitate this process, in the case of Inter-island Ferries the Department of Maritime Affairs would like to urge the traveling public to co-operate fully with the Ticket Seller or Ticketing Agent for each respective Ferry. Proper accountability in the event of an emergency at sea will depend on your truthfulness and accuracy when submitting name(s) to the ticketing agent.
While we are cognizant that occasionally some passengers will be late, the Department would encourage the traveling public to purchase their tickets on time so that the recording process can be done in a timely manner for departure on schedule. Last minute travel arrangements by Ferry should be avoided for smooth, safe and easy travel between the Islands.
Department of Maritime Affairs
Ministry of Public Works, Utilities, Transport & Post
