Application: Pole Star Global (Pole Star), the recognized Application Service Provider (ASP) for use by Jamaican Ships, has advised that one of the communications satellites serving its LongRange Identification and Tracking (LRIT) System, will be decommissioned on December 31, 2020. This will adversely impact vessels served by that platform, which will at that time be in breach of the SOLAS Convention.

SOLAS Convention requires Damage Control Plan and Booklets for the following ships:

• passenger ships, regardless of size, since at least 1974
• dry cargo ships over 100 metres in length, constructed on or after February 1, 1992
• dry cargo ships over 80 metres in length, constructed on or after July 1, 1998, and
• all ships, regardless of length, constructed on or after January 1, 2009.

IMO fuel oil consumption Data Collection System (IMO DCS) came into force on March 1st 2018, further to MARPOL Annex VI amendments adopted in October 2016 by virtue of IMO Resolution MEPC.278(70).

The Maritime Authority of Jamaica (MAJ) has taken into consideration the severe impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the daily lives of people globally and the consequent problems caused for local and international shipping. We, therefore, advise all our vessel owners, to observe the measures which have been promulgated by the Ministry of Health and Wellness, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the guidance contained in this Circular and to employ all reasonable measures to ensure their health and safety.

Background 

The Maritime Authority of Jamaica (MAJ) is cognizant of the crisis brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic and its debilitating impact on the global community. There has been some improvement as some ports across the world have re-opened, and seafarers are being repatriated in some instances. Notwithstanding, numerous seafarers are still facing difficulty at sea, and it is recognized that only a global response will alleviate the hardships seafarers face during this pandemic.

Consequently, in response to the recommendations of the IMO and other global industry stakeholders, the Government of Jamaica (GOJ) has instituted measures to alleviate the current crisis.  These are outlined in this Circular.