Some 30 delegates from the United Kingdom, the UK Crown Dependencies and the UK Overseas Territories, which operate shipping registers, as well as various stakeholders in Anguilla, met at Paradise Cove from May 10-14 this week. It was the first conference of the Red Ensign Group (REG) to be hosted in Anguilla.

Anguilla Government with visiting delegates and others at the Opening Ceremony

Among the delegations were top officials of the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency including Richard Parkes, Chief Executive Officer, Andrew Stewart, Head of Legal Services, Paul Coley, Assistant Director of Seafarers and Ships, and Andrew Cherrett, Assistant Director of Corporate Governance & Risk.

Anguilla Government with visiting delegates and others at the Opening Ceremony

The conference provided a forum for discussion of maritime policies, technical issues in respect of regulation, maritime safety, pollution prevention and the welfare of seafarers for ships on their registers world-wide and for visiting ships in their waters.

The delegates were welcomed to Anguilla by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications and Housing, Larry Franklin, who them introduced Edwin Harris, Superintendent of Ports, as the Master of Ceremonies.

Another section of delegates and others

Anguilla’s Acting Chief Minister and Minister of Social Development, Edison Baird, said the Red Ensign Group could not have chosen a more fitting place than Anguilla for its 2010 conference, given the island’s unparalleled coastal beauty and proud maritime history.

He thought it was commendable that the group met annually in such a forum, in an atmosphere of open dialogue where ideas, best practices and matters affecting all could be shared. “The importance of ensuring that this group maintains the highest international standards in compliance with the relevant conventions cannot be over-emphasised,” he told the delegates. “While the nature of the challenges may change, issues affecting regulations, safety and welfare, and environmental protection, will always remain relevant and must continue to be at the forefront of your agenda.

Governor Harrison

“These three days provide a wonderful opportunity for you to improve relations, strengthen linkages and gain knowledge which can only benefit the group as it strives to maintain the standard of quality that is synonymous with the Red Ensign Group. I trust that you will make full use of this opportunity and, through meaningful discourse and camaraderie, this group will emerge as an even stronger entity, more empowered and better prepared to meet the many challenges faced by maritime agencies.”

Mr. Samuel Webster, Adviser to Minister Evan Gumbs, said the new Government was happy that the conference was hosted by Anguilla early in its term of office as there was an urgent need to diversify the island’s economic situation. He was of the view that ship registration would complement the pillars of Anguilla’s economy, mainly tourism and financial services. Mr. Webster was delighted that the island had signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the UK Government in the hope to register vessels of up to 400 gross tons.

Hon. Edison Baird

He went on: “Anguilla, like other UK Dependencies and Overseas Territories, has a rich maritime shipping history. Our love and dependency on the sea is very well known. However, it is time to recognise that we have to integrate local and traditional ways with international requirements and conventions for safety, security and other maritime best practices.”

Mr. Andrew Parkes, Interim Chief Executive Officer of the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency, spoke on behalf of the UK Department of Transport. He was grateful to the Governor, Ministers of Government and the Permanent Secretary for their efforts in hosting the conference. He said it was vital that there were appropriate means to ensure that proper administrative arrangements were in place so that the international obligations of the group could continue.

Mr. Sam Webster

The conference was declared open by Governor Harrison. “This unique group is recognised world-wide for setting demanding standards for its shipping registers,” he stated. "The delegates around the table have shared responsibility for formulating and implementing the policies that ensure that the Red Ensign Group remains the foremost grouping of shipping registers in the world. I know that it is a responsibility that you do not take lightly and that it takes a great deal of work to ensure that the Red Ensign Group continues to fly the flag of quality.”

Mr. Andrew Parkes

The Governor added that the delegates had a busy agenda covering everything from accident investigations to the ships registry database system. “Your discussions will include issues of great technical detail as well as more strategic ones. I’m sure that the meetings will be extremely productive and that a great deal of information and best practice will be shared,” he added.

In declaring the conference open, Governor Harrison rang the traditional usually taken around at the annual meetings of the Red Ensign Group.

| Printer-friendly page | Send this article to a friend |

World News