THE CARIBBEAN MOU ON PORT STATE CONTROL SIGNS THE HOST STATE AGREEMENT WITH THE GOVERNMENT OF JAMAICA

In 2002, the Government of Jamaica submitted to the CMOU the need to develop a Host State Agreement to formalise the hosting arrangement for the Secretariat of the Caribbean MOU on port State control due to the fact that Jamaica had been hosting the CMOU Secretariat since 2000.

After review and discussion by the Caribbean Port State Control Committee (CPSCC), the Secretariat of the CMOU formally submitted this agreement to the Government of Jamaica. After review by the various departments of the Government of Jamaica, the Host State Agreement document was submitted to the Cabinet and was subsequently approved for signature.

The Host State Agreement formalises the existing arrangement whereby the Government of Jamaica, through the Maritime Authority of Jamaica hosts the Secretariat of the Caribbean MOU on port State control.

The signing took place on February 22, 2013 during the Opening Ceremony of the International Maritime Organisation’s High Level Symposium for Ministers with responsibility for Maritime Transport. The Host State Agreement was signed between the Minister of Transport, Works and Housing of Jamaica, Dr. the Hon. Omar Davies and the Chairman of the CMOU, Amb. Dwight Gardiner of Antigua and Barbuda. The Secretary General of the International Maritime Organisation, Mr. Koji Sekimisu was also in attendance to observe this signing ceremony.