Ship
Safety and Inspection
The
Jamaican Ship Registry (JSR) is a full service Registry
committed to provide quality service to the shipping industry
through its marine survey and technical support programme.
Empowered
by modern legislation, the Shipping Act 1998 provides a
comprehensive basis for the inspection and certification
of ships registered under the Jamaican Flag. Staffed with
a qualified and experienced team of surveyors who meet the
highest standards of training and certification, the Maritime
Authority of Jamaica (MAJ) has the capability and capacity
to undertake the complete range of marine surveys and provide
technical support for vessels on the Jamaican Ship Registry.
For
the convenience of owners, the MAJ maintains a worldwide
network of Surveyors to conduct safety inspections, which
will complement the surveys conducted by the Classification
Societies. This programme is designed to enhance and maintain
the quality of the Jamaican Ship Registry (JSR) fleet, avoid
Port State Control (PSC) detentions and assist owners to
improve the reliability and operational efficiency of their
vessels.
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Seafarers’
Certification
Under
the Shipping Act 1998, the MAJ is responsible for establishing
the standards of Training, Examination and Certification
for seafarer’s, trained at Jamaica’s maritime training college,
the Caribbean
Maritime Institute (CMI).. The MAJ administers the programme,
approves the syllabus for training all seafarers’ and ensures
strict compliance with STCW 78/95 standards.
Jamaica
is one of the first countries to have effectively implemented
the STCW Convention and was named on the International Maritime
Organisation (IMO) “White List” published in November 2000.
The
MAJ’s Directorate of Safety, Environment and Certification
(DSEC) maintains the necessary database and records for
issuing STCW 1995 compliant Certificates. The requirements
under the Jamaican Law is that all seafarers working on
Jamaican vessels must be qualified for the duties they will
be performing and additionally officers must hold a Jamaican
Certificate of Competency or be issued with a Jamaican Endorsement
issued on an equivalency basis. To facilitate this process
the MAJ has entered into Reciprocal Recognition agreements
with major crewing countries. The MCA in the United Kingdom
has accorded recognition to Jamaican Seafarers’ certification.
All countries listed on the IMO published ‘White List” will
be considered for Reciprocal Recognition. Special ship
Registry incentives are offered for the employment of holders
of Jamaican Certificates of Competency.
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Safe
Manning
The
Jamaican Regulation and the STCW Convention requires that
all vessels flying the Jamaican Flag must be issued with
a Safe Manning Certificate. Owners manning proposals are
considered and approved by the MAJ on the basis of these
requirements.
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Small
Vessel Inspections
Through
its team of highly qualified and efficient Surveyors, the
MAJ assists Jamaican vessels to operate in accordance with
the relevant safety and environmental standards. Surveys
are conducted prior to permanent registration. All vessels
on the Register benefit from random inspection on a tri-annual
basis to ensure standards are maintained.
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Classification
Societies
The
Maritime Authority of Jamaica (MAJ) recognises the following
Classification Societies.
- Lloyds
Register of Shipping
- American
Bureau Of Shipping
- Bureau
Veritas
- China
Classification Society
- Det
Norske Veritas
- Germanishcher
Lloyd
- Korean
Register of Shipping
- Russian
Maritime Register of Shipping (Exclusive to Russian-owned
ships)
- Hellenic
Register of Shipping
- Nippon
Kaiji Kyokai (NKK)
- Non
IACS members will be considered for small vessels.
Jamaica
is signatory to the major international maritime conventions
and works closely with the Classification Societies to
expedite IMO convention certification.
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Port
State Control (PSC)
Port
State Control (PSC) is a reality that must be complied with.
Jamaica has its own PSC regime which is intended to protect
the beautiful but fragile Caribbean Maritime Environment.
As a member of the Caribbean Memorandum of Understanding
on PSC, the MAJ carries out inspections of vessels to achieve
its 15% target quota.
In
the unlikely event that a Jamaican vessel is detained any
where in the world, the MAJ will support the owner on an
administration to administration basis, and with the assistance
of their authorised surveyors on site, will actively work
to ensure that the ship is not delayed.
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Casualty
Investigations
The
MAJ regards casualty investigation as a key area of accountability
and part of its responsibility as both a flag and port state.
MAJ
surveyors have extensive experience in this specialised
area and the MAJ is able to conduct investigations into
all significant domestic and international casualties involving
Jamaican flag vessels and undertake also investigation on
behalf of other administrations on a contractual basis.
Depending
on the severity and location of the incident, an on the
site investigation will be conducted either by the MAJ or
local NES surveyors.
For
further information please contact:
George
Lovemore
Director of Safety, Environment and Certification
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