Caribbean Maritime Leaders Strengthen Regional Cooperation

The meeting brought together Directors and Heads of Maritime Administrations, alongside representatives of regional organizations, development partners and the IMO Secretariat, to advance common priorities for the region’s maritime sector. It was jointly organized by the IMO Regional Presence Office for the Caribbean and the Guyana Maritime Administration Department (MARAD). 

Strengthening maritime legislation 

A key highlight of the meeting was the launch of the CARIBSMART-Law Initiative, a regional programme aimed at strengthening maritime legal frameworks and supporting the effective implementation of IMO instruments across the Caribbean with funding support from Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The launch included virtual remarks by Mr. Kamal Mohammed Al Junaidi, Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the International Maritime Organization (IMO), who reaffirmed the Kingdom’s commitment to supporting IMO’s technical cooperation programme and strengthening maritime capacity-building through international partnership.

The initiative will assist Member States in modernizing maritime legislation and strengthening national capacity to implement and enforce international maritime obligations. 

Advancing regional cooperation 

Participants reviewed progress on regional maritime initiatives and identified priorities to guide the future delivery of the IMO Integrated Technical Cooperation Programme  (ITCP) in the Caribbean. 

Discussions focused on maritime safety, marine environmental protection, port State control, maritime security, facilitation, seafarer training and development, institutional capacity-building, and regional technical cooperation. The meeting concluded with recommendations to strengthen regional cooperation and guide future IMO technical assistance across the Caribbean. 

Following the meeting, participants attended a workshop on advancing inclusive governance and leadership in maritime administrations. The workshop explored practical approaches to strengthening leadership, enhancing institutional effectiveness and fostering inclusive, resilient and sustainable maritime administrations. 

IMO Regional Presence Office for the Caribbean 

Based in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, the IMO Regional Presence Office for the Caribbean supports governments and regional organizations in implementing the IMO Integrated Technical Cooperation Programme (ITCP). The office is led by Regional Coordinator Ms. Vivian Rambarath-Parasram, who is a maritime lawyer, academic and capacity-building leader with over 25 years’ experience in maritime law, environmental governance, research and maritime education. 

Two new technical cooperation projects launched for the Caribbean

The Caribbean region is set to benefit from two new, targeted projects aimed at strengthening maritime governance and implementation of IMO instruments, with funding secured from international partners, namely Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Oman.

Project 1: Carib-SAP (Model Strategy Toolkit)

The first initiative, named Carib-SAP, addresses the lack of comprehensive national strategies required under the IMO Instruments Implementation Code (III Code), particularly among Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and Least Developed Countries (LDCs).

Carib-SAP proposes the development of a Model Overall Strategy Toolkit, which will serve as the foundation for a future regional maritime strategy. The project will proceed in two phases, with Oman funding the preparatory first phase. This preparatory work will focus on the foundational analytical and consultative activities necessary to create the Toolkit and prepare for the broader Caribbean Regional Maritime Strategy and Action Plan.

The overall project objective is to provide Member States with practical resources to prepare and implement their national strategies. This is intended to establish a coherent and inclusive Regional Maritime Strategy for the Caribbean that supports regional coordination, strengthens IMO instruments implementation, and promotes digitalization, safety, security, environmental protection, and sustainable blue economy development.

Project 2: Carib-SMART-Law (Legislative Capacity)

The second project, Carib-SMART-Law, is funded by Saudi Arabia and focuses on strengthening maritime legislation, enforcement, and specialized drafting capacity. Gaps in these areas can often delay the adoption and implementation of IMO instruments.

Building on recommendations from the CARIBSMART Preparatory Project, CARIBSMART-Law will operate over 24 months to enhance legislative drafting, improve policy alignment, and build institutional capacity across participating States. This is designed to enable countries to effectively ratify, transpose, and enforce priority IMO instruments.

Based on the needs and country’s commitments to participate in the project,  the project will provide direct support to the participating States, including assistance with drafting maritime laws, developing inter-agency protocols, and refining national maritime policy strategies, all coordinated through the IMO’s Regional Presence Office.

Beneficiary countries for Carib-Smart: Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago.

Beneficiary countries for Carib-Smart Law: Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago.