St Kitts & Nevis ship registry quality drive boosts inspection results
2012 03 09
- Details
QUALITY initiatives commenced last year by the London-based St Kitts & Nevis International Ship Registry (SKANReg) have led to a major improvement in Port State Control inspection results, which show that detentions were down 62 per cent and deficiencies had dropped 49 per cent.
SKANReg is now seeking support for further progress in a submission to the International Maritime Organisation's Flag State Implementation (FSI) sub-committee ahead of its 20th session from March 26-30. The registry says it is a "source of frustration" that, with only a small number of ships operating within certain regions, even a single detention can result in targeting of its ships and adversely affect its PSC list ratings in some areas. It is suggesting a harmonised system of reporting PSC statistics to avoid distortions.
The proposal comes as SKANReg - operational since 2005 - steps up its bid to attain PSC Grey List status within the next one to two years and White List ranking within two to four years from now. As part of this drive, the registry has successfully applied to the Voluntary IMO Member State Audit Scheme and is due to be audited in the second half of next year. Technical assistance has been offered by several countries, notably Australia and Turkey.
The St Kitts & Nevis Government last month became the 23rd signatory to the Maritime Labour Convention 2006, which sets out new working and living standards for seafarers. The convention needs backing by 30 countries. However, it is expected to come into force shortly, after seven ratifications were received in the last six months.
As reported in its paper to the FSI sub-committee, SKANReg enhanced its regulatory oversight in 2011 with a string of new measures that slashed ship detentions and deficiencies in the three main PSC regimes where its 320 SOLAS vessels operate.
Registrar Nigel Smith says: "Our fleet is gradually becoming more diverse and sophisticated, but at the same time we remain loyal to owners and managers from developing nations who often operate older tonnage. This raises special challenges in maintaining standards, but it categorically does not mean there is any room for compromise on quality."
Source Shipping Gazette - Daily Shipping News
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