Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, Hon. Gaston Browne, says his country will collaborate with the Government of Jamaica to increase the Caribbean region’s market share of the lucrative global shipping industry, through ship registration services.                  

Mr. Browne pointed out that although the Maritime Authority of Jamaica’s (MAJ’s) counterpart agency in Antigua was contributing in a significant way to that country’s treasury, through ship registration, he would like to see the contribution increase exponentially and as such, collaboration with other Caribbean territories would be explored.

“I am quite sure we can continue to co-ordinate our efforts and I’m sure that there are many opportunities to be exploited for our mutual benefit,” he said.

The Prime Minister was speaking during a visit to the offices of the MAJ on November 13, ahead of delivering the keynote address at the Caribbean Maritime Institute’s graduation ceremony at the Jamaica Conference Centre.

Meanwhile, Director General of the MAJ, Rear Admiral Peter Brady, said Jamaica looks to Antigua and Barbuda for expertise in ship registration, as that country currently holds the number two position in the Caribbean behind the Bahamas.

It was further explained that under the Maritime Authority’s developmental mandate, the ship registry is to be used as a means of generating income for the economy.

Jamaica currently has 145 international vessels on the register and 833 domestic vessels.

The top three Caribbean registers are included among the top 35 in the world. They are the Bahamas, Antigua and Barbuda and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. With that distinction however, the Caribbean region collectively accounts for just six per cent of the global fleet.