Page 3 - AGM 2018 Brochure

Chairman’s Message

The year since our last Annual General Meeting has come to be one of
the most important years in shipping history. The agreement on the
IMO Global Strategy on GHG emissions is truly historical. Similarly, the
discussion now initiated at the IMO regarding Maritime Autonomous
Surface Ships will be historic indeed. Closer to home, so to say, we saw
the re-election of The Bahamas to the IMO Council, showing the
importance and influence of our Flag on the development of shipping.
During the past year we have continued work to make the Bahamas Shipowners Association
even more recognised as a proactive and trusted body on the international arena. The
Association has been represented and active in various capacities at numerous meetings
with the IMO and ICS as well as the ILO. The strategy we embarked upon two years ago is
clearly setting its mark and I look forward to our continued progress in times to come.

To summarise, the IMO ambitious strategy aims The BSA offers owners the opportunity to be
to cut the total greenhouse gas emissions of proactive in topical industry issues, including the
shipping by at least 50% by 2050, compared to discussion of prospective international policy
2008 – with an agreed efficiency goal, as an and legislative changes, with international
average for the sector, for a 40% improvement maritime authorities and associations. This year,
by 2030 compared to 2008, and a 70% in our joint delegations with the BMA, we have
improvement by 2050. So that the entire sector met with USCG, EPA; Chamber of Shipping of
will be in position to decarbonise completely, America; CLIA; and BIMCO. These meetings
consistent with achieving the 1.5° climate change consistently prove to be constructive and
goal identified by the UN. The full effects of the productive – and this year was no exception -
strategy are still to be seen, but as shipowners with exchanges that lead to insights and
we can expect to see changes in ship design, enhanced awareness on all topics within the
operations, propulsion systems, with the respective fields of endeavour and responsibility.
development of new types of fuels. Whereas the One such topical industry issue, and focus for the
former are more tangible, the latter is somewhat future, is the aforementioned ‘MASS’ – which
nebulous at this time. Whilst there is a certain leant itself to the theme of this year’s AGM &
scepticism of MBMs as a means of further Conference: ‘Human Element & Automation at
incentivising CO2 reduction, they could have a Sea’. Forecasts show that we can expect to see
‘part to play’ in the future. In this eventuality, I autonomous ships trading in the near future
would anticipate reprising my role as Chairman however, it is also clear there will be degrees of
of the ICS MBM Working Group together with automation - with evolving automated processes
BIMCO, INTERTANKO and INTERCARGO.
and decision support. We need to assess the
The recognition of the important role of the effects and impact on our seafarers, and how we
owners in maintaining the registry’s reputation as shipowners will ensure systems onboard are
and standards, led to the strategic decision to designed with feasibility and safety as a priority.
create the Bahamas Shipowners’ Association In closing, I wish to acknowledge Domenico
(BSA). The BSA encompasses all shipping sectors Rognoni of Carnival as BSA Vice Chairman and
and promotes the interests of owners of his active and effective involvement with the
Bahamian registered vessels and facilitates BMA Board and Bahamas Government to date. I
consultation with the Bahamas Maritime also express my sincere thanks to the Board and
Authority (BMA). The BMA is one of the world’s Secretariat for their invaluable support.
premier ship registries whose growth has not
been at the expense of quality. The relationship
between the BSA and BMA is the key to our John Adams
success. We acknowledge BMA Board Chair Chairman
Denise Lewis-Johnson, Deputy Chair Peter John
Goulandris, and Acting CEO & MD Capt. Dwain
Hutchinson.