Between Calendar year 2019 and 2020 Jamaica has had a grounding of a pilot boat (April 2019) and a grounding of a Tug (February 2020). Investigations have concluded that the pilot boat crew were not aware of their location after disembarking the pilot ( a case of vertigo?). The tug-master who had no valid certificate was also unaware of his location as he struggled to maneuver his vessel in bad weather off the coast of Montego Bay. There were also two small oil spills as a result of hoses parting during bunkering.

Under the tacit acceptance procedure, of the Amendments of 2018 to the Code of the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 which were approved by the 107th Session of the International Labour Conference, in accordance with Article XV of the Convention which sets out the simplified amendment procedure adopted in respect of the Convention. The amendments will enter into force on 26 December 2020. The full text of the amendments is hereby attached.

All mariners and other interested parties are hereby informed that anchoring and bunkering are not allowed on California Banks, Mackerel Banks, and all other outlying banks off the Jamaican Coast. Outlying Banks refer to: Kingston Bank, Sunbury Bank, Walton Bank, Blossom Bank, and New Bank.

The reporting of Maritime Incidents/accidents affords the MAJ opportunities to conduct investigations into these incidents, with a view to arrive at causes and possibly implementation of preventative measures to mitigate against such incidents in the future.