Beautiful Virgin Islands

Sunday, Jul 06, 2025

Shipping Registry seeks powers to ticket non-compliant boaters

Shipping Registry seeks powers to ticket non-compliant boaters

The Director of the Virgin Island Shipping Registry John Samuel said his agency is currently pushing for changes in the legislation to allow for officers to carry out functions such as actively issuing tickets for vessels not compliant with regulations.
Speaking at a press conference last Friday, Samuel said there is a need for an improvement in the current legislation to give the Shipping Registry more enforcement powers so it can actively enforce maritime safety on locals waters; as is the case with other enforcement agencies such as the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force, Customs, Ports Authority, Dockmasters and Marine Inspectors.

“We put that proposal to the government and to the Cabinet. Cabinet has approved that, so we are in the process of approving the legislation now so we can have an active enforcement process going forward,” Samuel said.

“The legislation currently does not allow that. So, it is a working process, and we will get to a stage where the level of compliance across the field would be high and there would be enforcement mechanism so that we can maintain our standards,” the Director of the Shipping Registry said.

Samuel also made it clear that Shipping Registry is responsible for maritime safety and since he was admitted into office in 2020, he and his team have worked diligently to ensure that vessels comply with the current regulations for operating in the territory.

“Part of the reasons that the fleets are having to comply is because we are now doing our job,” Samuel said.

He added when he came to office, discussions commenced with the various representative groups in the marine industry in the Virgin Islands. He said as the territory was in COVID-19 lockdown and vessels were not in operation, his team at Shipping Registry thought it would be ideal to start the process of compliance.

“We had a meeting in March 2020 with the representative groups of the industry. At Shipping Registry, we said that all your boats are not moving since everyone is locked down. My staff is here, they don’t have much work to do so let us begin now to bring the fleets up to compliance,” Samuel added.

He noted his agency gave industry players ample time to comply with regulations as soon as he was made aware of the situation regarding compliance when he assumed his role.

Samuel said even after the new legislation came into effect in October of last year, the various charter companies in the territory were given time before the crackdown began earlier this month.

“Even after the new legislation came in, we did not start enforcements. Enforcement requires that one; vessels are inspected in accordance with the regulations. Owners are issued deficiencies so they know what they need to replace on the vessels, what they need to place on the vessels. Owners go away, and they try to comply. Once the vessel is properly equipped, they receive a certificate,” Samuel explained.

“So, that process began, and I began doing my job the day I joined Shipping Registry. I cannot speak to what happened before I was at Shipping Registry. But I can speak to what happened when I got there, what we did and how we are moving forward,” the Director added.
Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
London Stock Exchange Faces Historic Low in Initial Public Offerings
A new online platform has emerged in the United Kingdom, specifically targeting Muslim men seeking virgin brides
Trump Celebrates Independence Day with B-2 Flyover and Signs Controversial Legislation
Boris Johnson Urges Conservatives to Ignore Farage
SNP Ordered to Update Single-Sex Space Guidance Within Days
Starmer Set to Reject Calls for Wealth Taxes
Stolen Century-Old Rolls-Royce Recovered After Hotel Theft
Macron Presses Starmer to Recognise Palestinian State
Labour Delayed Palestine Action Ban Over Riot Concerns
Swinney’s Tax Comments ‘Offensive to Scots’, Say Tories
High Street Retailers to Enforce Bans on Serial Shoplifters
Music Banned by Henry VIII to Be Performed After 500 Years
Steve Coogan Says Working Class Is Being ‘Ethnically Cleansed’
Home Office Admits Uncertainty Over Visa Overstayer Numbers
JD Vance Questions Mandelson Over Reform Party’s Rising Popularity
Macron to Receive Windsor Carriage Ride in Royal Gesture
Labour Accused of ‘Hammering’ Scots During First Year in Power
BBC Head of Music Stood Down Amid Bob Vylan Controversy
Corbyn Eyes Hard-Left Challenge to Starmer’s Leadership
London Tube Trains Suspended After Major Fire Erupts Nearby
Richard Kemp: I Felt Safer in Israel Under Attack Than in the UK
Cyclist Says Police Cited Human Rights Act for Riding No-Handed
China’s Central Bank Consults European Peers on Low-Rate Strategies
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Saudi Arabia Maintains Ties with Iran Despite Israel Conflict
Musk Battles to Protect Tesla Amid Trump Policy Threats
Air France-KLM Acquires Majority Stake in Scandinavian Airlines
UK Educators Sound Alarm on Declining Child Literacy
Shein Fined €40 Million in France Over Misleading Discounts
Brazil’s Lula Visits Kirchner During Argentina House Arrest
Trump Scores Legislative Win as House Passes Tax Reform Bill
Keir Starmer Faces Criticism After Rocky First Year in Power
DJI Launches Heavy-Duty Coaxial Quadcopter with 80 kg Lift Capacity
U.S. Senate Approves Major Legislation Dubbed the 'Big Beautiful Bill'
Largest Healthcare Fraud Takedown in U.S. History Announced by DOJ
Poland Implements Border Checks Amid Growing Migration Tensions
Political Dispute Escalates Between Trump and Musk
Emirates Airline Expands Market Share with New $20 Million Campaign
Amazon Reaches Milestone with Deployment of One Millionth Robot
US Senate Votes to Remove AI Regulation Moratorium from Domestic Policy Bill
Yulia Putintseva Calls for Spectator Ejection at Wimbledon Over Safety Concerns
Jury Deliberations in Diddy Trial Yield Partial Verdict in Serious Criminal Charges
House Oversight Committee Subpoenas Former Jill Biden Aide Amid Investigation into Alleged Concealment of President Biden's Cognitive Health
King Charles Plans Significant Role for Prince Harry in Coronation
Two Chinese Nationals Arrested for Espionage Activities Against U.S. Navy
Amazon Reaches Major Automation Milestone with Over One Million Robots
Extreme Heat Wave Sweeps Across Europe, Hitting Record Temperatures
Meta Announces Formation of Ambitious AI Unit, Meta Superintelligence Labs
Robots Compete in Football Tournament in China Amid Injuries
×