PSC Seminar boosts understanding

To strengthen its dedication to saving lives, Jamaica, represented by the Maritime Authority of Jamaica (MAJ), participated in a useful seminar on Port State Control hosted jointly by the Caribbean Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control (CMOU) and the Belize Port Authority.
The three-day event, held in Belize City inApril, focussed on training participants in the use of the revised CMOU Manual on PSC and on introducing participants to the Concentrated Inspection Campaign (CIC) regime.
Delegates representing a wide range of Caribbean countries took part in two days of theoretical training and one day of practica ltraining in the port of Belize onboard luxury cruise liner The Norwegian Dawn and theJamaica-flagged cargo vessel CFS Pacora
It is the directive of the CMOU that delegates in attendance are expected to conduct training on the Manual with theirrespective inspectors on their return homeand submit a report to CMOU indicating thenumber of inspectors so trained.
The main areas covered were:
• Guidelines to the type of inspection tobe conducted based on the preliminarychecks done and the risk calculatorpoints awarded
• Ship Risk Calculator
• Clear Grounds
• Manning Issues
• Ratification Tables
• Focus Areas
• International contact list for MaritimeAdministrations worldwide.
Mr Henry Tomlinson, Marine Inspector for the MAJ, who attended the course said: "The training was quite fruitful as its objectiveswere met in regards to the in-depth trainingreceived. Of particular importance is the CIC which we are looking forward to implementing later this year, to bolster ourthrust in the region to reducing substandardshipping and contribute to the reduction inlives lost at sea."
Source: MAJ (Maritime Authority of Jamaica)