BRADES, Montserrat, May 15th, 2013 – Montserrat on Tuesday, May 14, 2013 signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the UK Department for Transport (DfT) in Tortola, British Virgin Islands.
A small delegation comprising of the Hon. FS John Skerritt and the Comptroller of Customs Peter W.A White, who is also the Registrar of ships in Montserrat is attending the Red Ensign annual conference currently being held in Tortola.
The MoU was signed by Hon. Financial Secretary John Skerritt and Retired Admiral Sir Allan Massey, representing the UK Maritime and Coast Guard Agency (MCA). The new MoU between Montserrat and the UK Department of Transport would see formal assistance given to Montserrat to help put in place international standards for the regulation of the maritime industry, the Customs Comptroller explained.
Montserrat as a current member of the British Red Ensign Group and operates as a Category Two Red Ensign (British) Registry, which can register ships of up to 150 gross tons (GRT) and pleasure vessels (vessels not operated commercially) of up to 400 GRT.
As Montserrat moves ahead with its redevelopment one of the main areas is the portside development which includes a new port facility and marina.
White said it is “expected that there would be a marked increase in maritime traffic to include movement of cargo, passengers, pleasure crafts and fishing activities in and out of Montserrat and it is important that Montserrat has in place the necessary mechanisms to regulate the quality and safety of this industry.”
New legislation and regulations governing maritime activities have been drafted and will come up for consultation with a view to have them introduced in the near future.
The Red Ensign Group is comprised of the United Kingdom, Crown Dependencies (Isle of Man, Guernsey and Jersey) and UK Overseas Territories (Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Montserrat, St Helena and the Turks & Caicos Islands) which operate shipping registers.
These registers are divided into two categories: Category 1 - register ships of unlimited tonnage and type and Category 2 - register commercial ships and yachts of up to 150 gross registered tons (GRT); and vessels which are not operated commercially of up to 400 GRT. More details available on http://www.redensigngroup.org/
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