In a notice issued to the public, Customs noted that all charter companies with two or more vessels operating in the territory are required to attend the mandatory symposium.

The notice added that the gathering will be for both new and existing operators and it is scheduled to run from 10 am and 2 pm at Her Majesty’s Customs Training Room.

As a result of the increased cases of coronavirus in the territory in recent weeks, HM Customs said spaces are limited to one representative per charter company in keeping with COVID-19 guidelines.

Interested parties are advised to contact the department at 284-468-6800 to register for a session.

In an interview with BVI News in December, Commissioner of Customs Wade Smith had noted in the last few years, Customs and other government agencies have been hosting symposiums to educate operators in the marine industry on the dos and don’ts of the boating community in the Virgin Islands.

In recent months, there have been complaints from marine industry stakeholders on the access to information regarding licensing and operating charters in the territory and Smith had noted the symposium hosted by Customs in recent times has been to address that.

The last symposium held for the charter operators/owners in December was done in conjunction with the Virgin Islands Shipping Registry, Department of Trade, Labour Department, Immigration Department.

The Commissioner said that through the various symposiums, a number of owners have been contacting the various departments directly because they have not been receiving the full information from agencies regarding government policy.