THE Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) has announced that the department will be establishing an office at Charity, in Region 2, by the end of the first quarter of this year. The new office will facilitate boat owners and operators from the surrounding areas, as well as from Moruca. According to officials from MARAD, a team visited the area on March 3, 2015 and met with boat operators and other stakeholders in the area. Some 21 boat operators attended the meeting, along with the Assistant Regional Executive Officer of Region 1(Barima-Waini), Gerald Rodrigues.
During this meeting, sections of the sensitisation and safety awareness campaign that included discussing issues relating to the licensing and registering of vessels, and the certification of captains were publicised and discussed. Several other matters of concern were raised by the boat operators, in particular their desire to have timely access to the Department’s services.
Rodrigues during his brief remarks urged the operators to get themselves and their vessels certified once the office is up and running. As a result of the visit by the MARAD officials, a total of 48 children and adult life jackets were handed over to the District Education Officer of Region 1, Ignatius Adams.
Adams thanked MARAD and promised to distribute the jackets to schools in the riverine areas, so as to improve their safety while traversing the waterways.
This department operates in accordance with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and was established and regulated in 2003 under the 1997 Merchant Shipping Act.
Due to the increase in ships to Guyana’s shores, MARAD is party to a number of IMO Conventions that include Safety of Life At Sea (SOLAS); Standard of Training, Certification and Watch keeping Of Seafarers (STCW) and Marine Pollution (MAR), among others. The Department also offers an around-the-clock pilotage service.
MARAD will continue its safety campaign throughout the country and the distribution of life jackets in keeping with its mandate.