One of the challenges that the Virgin Islands Shipping Registry (VISR) sought to overcome in 2012 was the issue of uncertified vessels operating in Virgin Islands waters. This is according to VISR’s 2012 Report laid on the Table of the House of Assembly on Monday July 6, 2015 by Premier and Minister of Finance Dr The Hon D Orlando Smith. Photo: VINO

This is according to VISR’s 2012 Report laid on the Table of the House of Assembly on Monday July 6, 2015 by Premier and Minister of Finance Dr The Hon D. Orlando Smith.

“With continued effort and dedication to safe BVI waters, the number of uncertified small commercial vessels operating in BVI waters is steadily diminishing,” the report stated.

It noted that assistance from the various VI marine agencies, including the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF), BVI Ports Authority and the BVI Department of Customs, led to an enforcement programme, ensuring that the few remaining uncertified operators were brought into line.

It was noted; however, that only one vessel was detained in 2012 and found to be operating without the “proper statutory certificates on board and with extensive deficiencies”.

The vessel, ‘El Sueno II’, was detained on September 13, 2012 and released on September 23, 2015 on completion of “rectification of deficiencies”.

Limited Marine Repair & Service Providers

The issue of limited marine repair facilities and service providers remained constant, the report also stated.

“As a government department VISR must remain totally impartial in all matters relating to ship registration and inspection, as such, VISR cannot be seen to be acting as consultants to the marine industry. In lieu of this, an adequate supporting infrastructure to the local marine industry is required.”

The report stated that vessel operators regularly had to travel overseas to neighbouring territories such as USVI, Puerto Rico, St Maarten and the US mainland in order to repair and maintain their vessels.

It said often, operators report that they are not able to undertake certain actions in the VI, including to purchase particular safety equipment, dry dock their large vessel, carry out specialist weld repairs on critical items (for example, castings such as bronze propellers), service life rafts and other items, of life saving equipment, and obtain the services of an independent naval architect.

It is not clear how many of these challenges were overcome since the VISR 2012 report.