Eight years ago the leaders of the Cayman Islands realized the importance of maritime safety and standards when it hosted the first meeting of the Caribbean Port State Control Committee.
This week that same committee was back in the Cayman Islands to take stock in what has been accomplished and what still needs to be done.
The Cayman Islands has a rich maritime history that even includes time before the country became a British Port of Registry in 1903. The country now has Category I status as a British Registry.
The Cayman Islands is a well developed Flag State, which means there are hundreds of ships registered under its flag.
Those ships undergo strict inspection and must adhere to stringent rules and regulations regarding registration, maritime safety, the prevention of marine pollution, living and working conditions on board and maritime security.
The maritime industry is part of the lifeblood of the Cayman Islands, so it is only right that we maintain high standards, not only for the ships registered here, but for the foreign vessels that bring in goods to the people who live and work here.
The success of these high standards practiced in the Cayman Islands is evident worldwide when our own registered ships are inspected elsewhere. The record is so good that the Cayman Islands have been given White List status with the Paris Memorandum of Understanding and the United States Coast Guard.
When one considers that more than 90 per cent of goods are moved by sea worldwide, it becomes imperative that measures are in place to promote safety and security.
As good as the Cayman Islands is at policing itself on maritime rules and regulations, it is not a time to rest on our laurels, as Leader of Government Business told the committee members on Tuesday.
He rightly said this country must continue to monitor its high standards, but the Cayman Islands must also continue to work regionally
.
Hosting the committee meeting this week was just one way to show the region that we care and are more than willing to cooperate in the efforts of marine safety at all levels.
Through the efforts of this country, this region and this world, the numbers of sub-standard ships will slowly be reduced and there will be an increased safety of life at sea and protection of the marine environment.
We are the Cayman Islands. Without the sea we are nothing.
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