Home » Posts » Small vessel operators to come under tighter regulation

Small vessel operators to come under tighter regulation

by Barbados Today
2 min read
A+A-
Reset

Government is tightening the rules for the operation of small vessels in the island’s waters, reigning in how jet skis, catamarans, wave runners, and small commercial and pleasure boats ply their trade.

Licences for the vessels, a long-time requirement for fishing boats, are included in a raft of new operating procedures in the Shipping (Domestic Vessels) Bill, introduced in the House of Assembly on Friday.

But these proposed new regulations, which impose stiff penalties including fines and jail for violations, will not apply to fishing, lawmakers were told.

Minister of Tourism and International Transport Ian Gooding-Edghill, who brought the Bill to the floor of the legislature, described the new legal framework as “very technical” but “extremely important” to the management of marine resources and those operating within the marine environment.

He described the Bill as a suite of legal changes to govern the operation of larger boats.

According to the minister, a licence will be required to operate Barbados-registered small commercial vessels of “not more than 24 metres in length, a jet ski or other water sports craft and any other class of small vessel”.

The Bill also introduces a second class of licences, he explained.

“There is the small vessels operators’ licence, which is required for a vessel not more than 18 metres in length or a jet ski or other watersports craft. There is also a third category which speaks to a vessel 12 metres in length, jet skis or other sports craft,” Gooding-Edghill said.

The minister said the process for registration has also been simplified under the draft law.

A Small Vessels Operating Licence will replace the Speed Boat Licence, he said. To obtain a licence, an operator must have a certificate of competency, a medical certificate for fitness and any other document specified by the director of the Barbados Marine Transport Authority.

“Where a person has satisfied the requirements of an application and has paid the prescribed fee, the director shall issue a period of one year, three years or five years, a licence from the date of issue,” Gooding-Edghill said, quoting from the Bill.

He outlined some exceptions regarding licence applications.

“If you are certified by the Royal Yachting Association, the American Sailing Association, the United States Coast Guard, the Marine and Coast Guard Agency of the UK or any other internationally recognised body, you will not be required to obtain a Barbados Small Vessels Operators Licence,” the minister explained.

“This is important because often we will have persons operating in Barbados with the requisite experience and training and when they come here, they won’t have to, by law, once this is proclaimed, have to go through those relevant procedures to obtain a small vessels licence.”

You may also like

About Us

Barbados Today logos white-14

The (Barbados) Today Inc. is a privately owned, dynamic and innovative Media Production Company.

Useful Links

Get Our News

Newsletter

Subscribe my Newsletter for new blog posts, tips & new photos. Let's stay updated!

Barbados Today logos white-14

The (Barbados) Today Inc. is a privately owned, dynamic and innovative Media Production Company.

BT Lifestyle

Newsletter

Subscribe my Newsletter for new blog posts, tips & new photos. Let's stay updated!

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Accept Privacy Policy

-
00:00
00:00
Update Required Flash plugin
-
00:00
00:00