IMO’s audit of MARAD reveals limited areas for improvement
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DPI, GUYANA, Tuesday, February 27, 2018
The Maritime Administration (MARAD) is now able to better manage Guyana’s waterways after a recent audit revealed areas in need of improvement.
MARAD’s Director, Claudette Rogers asserted that the recent audit, carried out by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), “boasts” of the administration’s accomplishments. She explained the audit was conducted from February 12th to the 19th and the findings highlighted areas for improvement under the State’s obligation and Flag, Port, and Coastal States Inspections.
Director of MARAD, Claudette Rogers.
Rogers informed the Department of Public Information (DPI) that only four findings were highlighted under the aforementioned areas, and is worthy enough to be celebrated rather than condemned.
“If you have an audit covering the State’s obligation, your Flag State inspection, Port State inspection and Coastal State Inspection and from all of those you only have four findings, then we can proudly say we have done extraordinarily well.”
She added that “the findings of this audit are for ratification of our convention, which is legislation; capacity building, which we know about since we are short of the technical skills in-house; training and finally, our national strategy. Which means you need to have legislation in place for our collaboration with agencies as the National Frequency Management Unit, Coast Guards, Civil Defence Commission and others.”
As it relates to legislation, Rogers clarified that the administration has ratified some conventions but was unable to have them incorporated into the national laws, while there are some mandatory conventions, which are to be ratified. However, that will be addressed shortly since permission was already granted from the subject Minister, David Patterson.
There were four findings; one observation under the general responsibilities and obligation of the state, nine findings; two observations under the Flag State activities, four findings; zero observations under the Coastal State activities and five findings; zero observations under the Port State activities.
Rogers said, “it is important to note that while we lack the requisite resources in-house we now have a recognised organisation or a classification society which is now authorized to issue mandatory certificates on behalf of Maritime Administration, for vessels that will be engaging in international trade.” The administration is also preparing a corrective action plan to address the other areas.
Regarding the training programmes for Port State Control Officers, Rogers pointed out that, in this regard, staffers have benefitted from regional and international training, however, IMO has required that arrangements be in place for local training of the officers.
The report is a preliminary one which can be amended, the director explained, adding that it’s currently with IMO’s Secretary General, who will send the report back to Guyana within two months. When returned, the administration will have 90 days or three months to develop a corrective action plan based on the findings.
By: Ranetta La Fleur