A CABINET minister has urged Bahamians to pursue maritime industry careers with this country’s shipping registry continuing to attract “strong interest”.

Jobeth Coleby-Davis, minister of transport and energy, told the LJM Maritime Academy graduation ceremony that the sector’s continued expansion means more lucrative job opportunities are available to Bahamians.

“With global trade expected to grow significantly over the next decade owing to the rise of the global middle class, the maritime industry is expected to play a significant role in facilitating that growth in a sustainable and efficient manner,” she said. “The Bahamas stands as a clear example of the growth that the maritime industry is experiencing.

“Our country’s ship registry is the eighth largest in the world and comprises over 1,550 ships totalling more than 63 million gross tonnes. It is also the largest flag for passenger ships and one of the largest for gas carriers.

“Several weeks ago, I was on a working visit to Greece, where I met with several Greek ship owners who expressed a strong interest in The Bahamas ship registry and having their new vessels under the Bahamian flag,” Mrs Coleby-Davis said.

“Additionally, Royal Caribbean International’s latest cruise ship, Star of the Seas, which is currently being built in Finland and expected to enter service in August 2025, will be registered in The Bahamas. With this growth and expansion, the need for more highly skilled seafarers will become more important.”

The minister, pointing to numerous different job opportunities, said: “A master captain in the merchant shipping sector can earn between $8,000 to $14,000 per month, while a junior officer may earn $2,000 to $6,000 per month. A captain on a large yacht can earn between $10,000 to $20,000 per month, while a junior officer may earn between $3,000 to $6,000 per month.”