CORRECTION - In the March 12 edition of this story, it was stated that Mr Nick Cutmore, Secretary General of International Maritime Pilots Association, and Erin Ferguson of BMPA met with Minister of Labour Shane Gibson. Mr Cutmore and Mr Ferguson met with the director of labour at the ministry's office. In the story, reference was also made to IMO Resolution A916. It should have read IMO Resolution 960. The Tribune apologises for any inconvenience caused.

By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

FREEPORT – An official at the International Maritime Pilots Association expressed serious concerns over the absence of proper structure for pilotage services in Freeport. Nick Cutmore, Secretary-General at IMPA, says Grand Bahama has had quite a few incidents and wake-up calls, and is only one incident away from a major maritime catastrophe.

“There is clearly no transparency, and most of what we see in other nations is missing in terms of structure from the top to the people on the ground doing their jobs,” he said.

Mr Cutmore was speaking at the Bahamas Maritime Pilot’s Association forum on Best Practices, International Maritime Organization (IMO) Standards, Insurance Requirements, and Safety and Training Guidelines on Monday evening at Pelican Bay Resort.

“Having been here… I have to say I am shocked at some of the things I’ve heard that sort of make your teeth curl. There is an absence of a great many things that the shipping community might be expecting to find here,” he said.

Erin Ferguson, of BMPA, said there is no competent pilotage authority in the Bahamas.

He believes that the harbour at Freeport is unsafe, and that the establishment of independent pilotage will result in a safer port, and ensure ongoing training for marine pilots.

Mr Cutmore and Mr Ferguson met with the director of labour on Monday about their concerns regarding the number of incidents at anchorage and the lack of training for pilots in Freeport.

“I did ask about standards and training, and again I was shocked.

“I am shocked by the accidents and when we talked with the Minister in Nassau, he spoke of providence being on the side of the Bahamas. “You have had incredibly good fortune – for a laden tanker to be broadside on the beach for two weeks and not spill any oil – you are only a hair’s growth away from catastrophe,” he said.

“I pleaded with him…please do something – you have had so many wake up calls. When you have a big accident that will be too late – something needs to be done now,” Mr Cutmore warned.

The IMPA official was also surprised by the lack of training for marine pilots.

Some pilots, he said, have not been on a training course for five years.

Mr Cutmore said that there are conventions at IMO that are very important, such as the Standards for Training, Certification, and Watch keeping (STCW), and Safety of Life At Sea (SOLAS).

The IMO Resolution A960, he said, is also significant because it deals with training, certification, and operational requirement for marine pilots.

“There is a great deal in A960 that is missing from what I can see here. It is a big gap and it is very hard to reconcile the Bahamian registry performance at IMO,” Mr Cutmore said.

“Your administration should hang their heads in shame, or the companies. I don’t know who to point the finger at because there is no structure (here).”

“There is a big hole in the necessary structure to effectively run pilotage service. It is quite apparent there is no one authority with oversight, and nobody is managing the situation.”

Mr Cutmore said IMO has mandated that pilots receive ongoing training.

He said many cruise ships now coming into port do not carry paper charts, and pilots need to be trained on how to use electronic charts.

He also noted that cruise ships have complex control systems that pilots must know how to operate.

“Piloting a ship is not like learning to drive a car. Shipping is a dynamic business and people need training on all these new technologies.

“You have people in the shipping community moving their ships around the world, trying to manage their assets as best as possible with minimal waste, they would never dream that training here could possibly involve risks that they might find in more obvious places,” he said.

Mr Cutmore said the two-week grounding of the Formosa Falcon off Grand Bahama in October is the kind of thing that politicians in the UK would lose their jobs over.

“Your politicians need to get a grip on things. To hear of a laden tanker broadside on a beach for two weeks is absolutely, staggering.

“In Europe, politicians would lose their jobs for something like that – they would resign voluntarily or be thrown out of the post - that is unimaginable.

“And to have other instances and have a succession of them, as we said to the good minister, ‘you are riding providence a bit hard here’ – something has got to give,” he said.

He commended the BMPA for what they are doing to improve port safety, and standards and training for pilots in Freeport.

Mr Ferguson said there are some 18 pilots in Grand Bahama.

He said the resignation of some 14-BMPA member pilots in Freeport on March 28 will leave only four qualified pilots at the harbour.

Mr Ferguson said the four pilots would not be able to handle the current traffic at the harbour.

“The Ministry of Labour is concerned that there is a national security threat when the pilots’ resignations take effect,” he said.