Caribbean Memorandum of Understanding
on Port State Control
Caribbean Memorandum of Understanding
on Port State Control
The Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control in the Caribbean Region was signed in Christ Church, Barbados on February 9, 1996 by nine States namely: Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, the Netherlands Antilles, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago. This was in reality a successful culmination of years of discussion, research, and assistance from the International Maritime Organization with the lead person being Captain Barrie Rial (RMA).
The first Chairman of the CMOU Port State Control Committee was Lt. Cdr. Curtis Roach of Trinidad and Tobago, the Vice Chairman was Captain Hopeton Delisser of Jamaica and the first Secretary was Ms. Valerie Brown Director of Maritime Affairs of Barbados. Initially, the Secretariat was located in Barbados at the office of the Maritime Administration. The Secretariat was subsequently relocated to Jamaica in 2002 at the Maritime Authority of Jamaica. The CMOU is evolving, from the onset there was an offer from the Netherlands Antilles to host the Caribbean Maritime Information Centre (CMIC) however, there were some administrative limitations with regard to the receipt and input of data. In 2003 at the Port State Control Committee Meeting, Suriname was selected as the host state for the CMIC. The system was originally contracted from Transport Canada but is now hosted through the Mediterranean MOU.
The Membership has since increased to twenty States, namely Antigua & Barbuda, Aruba, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, The Cayman Islands, Cuba, Curacao (formerly the Netherlands Antilles), France, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, The Netherlands, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Sint Maarten, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago. In addition, Anguilla and the British Virgin Islands have joined as Associate Member States. Other Observer States have indicated their willingness to become Members and it is hoped that the membership of the CMOU will continue to grow over the next few years.
The executive body of the CMOU is the Caribbean Port State Control Committee or the CPSCC. It is comprised of representatives of all of the Member States and is headed by a Chairman and a Vice Chairman. The current Chairman is Mr. Michel Amafo from Suriname and the Vice Chairman is Mr. A. Joel Walton of the Cayman Islands.
The Secretariat is the planning and administrative arm of the CMOU. The Secretariat is staffed by the following persons:
| Secretary General - Mrs. Jodi Barrow |  |
| Administrative Assistant – Ms. Dionne Thaxter |  |
| Database Manager – Mr. Raul Ouseley (located in Paramaribo, Suriname) |  |
| Part-time Accountant – Mrs. Cutie Buckley |  |
The Secretariat reports to the Committee via the Chairman.
The main objective of the Secretariat is to conduct the day-to-day administrative activities of the CMOU. It provides a liaison point and so facilitates the exchange of information among the Members, Observers, the IMO and other PSC regimes and affiliated organizations. It is responsible for the organization of all meetings and workshops/seminars of the CMOU and the Secretary is mandated to represent the CMOU at various meetings throughout the year.
The CMOU is greatly indebted to the following organizations which made significant contributions to its formation:
The establishment of the CMOU has been rightly regarded as a catalyst for the advancement and development of Maritime Administrations in the Caribbean Region, since Member States were expected to have well established Maritime Administrations precedent to the carrying out of Port State Control. There was also collaboration with IMO and the Port State Control Committee through the office of the Regional Maritime Advisor (RMA) Lt. Cdr. Curtis Roach to ensure that Member States accede to the key International Maritime Conventions. This effort continues through the work of the new RMA, Mr. Colin Young with regional Workshops and Seminars being hosted by the IMO.
It is no secret that Port State Control has been a driving force relative to Flag State implementation. The CMOU on Port State Control remains committed to the eradication of sub-standard shipping not only in the Caribbean region but on a Global level.
The Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control in the Caribbean Region was signed in Christ Church, Barbados on February 9, 1996 by nine States namely: Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, the Netherlands Antilles, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago. This was in reality a successful culmination of years of discussion, research and assistance from the International Maritime Organisation with the lead person being Captain Barrie Rial (RMA).
Caribbean MOU
The Office Centre Building
2nd Floor,
12 Ocean Boulevard, Kingston
Jamaica, W.I.
Tel: (876) 967-1077
Fax: (876) 922-5765
Email: secretariat@caribbeanmou.org
