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Becoming a Member

Membership to the Bahamas Shipowners Association is open to any shipowner with a ship registered with the Bahamas Flag. Please contact the BSA Secretariat for further details.

The purpose of the Bahamas Shipowners Association is to promote members’ common interests. Members pool knowledge and experience, and collectively provide a clear voice in the development of the maritime industry.

Benefits of BSA Membership

• Support to members by acting as liaison between the owner and the flag state
• Regular reports on developments in the IMO
• Regular reports on developments through the ICS
• The possibility to affect developments through high level meetings with e.g. USCG, US EPA, EC as well as through the BMA and ICS
• Quarterly BSA Newsflash
• BSA Website including IMO & ICS reports as well as a document library for members only.

Our Objectives

• We monitor developments in the shipping industry impacting the interests of the BSA members and communicate such developments with our members.
• We represent the BSA members to national, regional, international and other relevant authorities, promoting our members’ interests and strengthening corporate interests on a political level.
• We cooperate with international shipping bodies to promote mutually beneficial interests.
• We ensure that the BSA members’ commercial interests are embodied in national, regional and international regulation, ensuring competitiveness on equal terms within the industry.
• We advance maritime and environmental sustainability at an international level, promoting safety and quality together with the BMA.
• We cooperate closely with and proactively support the BMA in its role as a leading international Flag, enhancing the competitiveness and growth of the Bahamian Register whilst ensuring a fleet of the highest quality.
• We support the Bahamian Maritime cluster.

The BSA Secretariat

The BSA Secretariat is made up of a Manager and a Secretary and is an integral part for realising the BSA Vision and living up to our Values.

The Secretariat works closely with our members in supporting and monitoring their interests, and is responsible for communication with members as well as other related parties. The Secretariat is also working closely with the BoD on the realisation of the BSA Strategy.

IMO Rapporteur

One of our main support to Members are the highly valued IMO reports through our own Rapporteur at the IMO. The reports cover each of the IMO Committee meetings, MSC, FAL, etc. and some of the Sub-Committee meeting such as the NCSR. Members can expect the reports within a week following a meeting, covering a highlight and brief analysis of issues affecting members interests an developments within the domain.

The International Chamber of Shipping

The BSA involvement with the International Chamber of Shipping is increasing, and Members receive similar reports from the ICS meetings as is supplied from the IMO’s meetings. Apart from being represented on the ICS Board, the BSA is also represented on a number of Committees and Panels.

Board of Directors

The BSA Board of Directors consists of 16 Directors, and is currently chaired by Mr John Adams, Managing Director Teekay Shipping. The BoD meet on a regular basis three to four times per year and also heads the Annual General Meeting for all members.

The BSA’s Board of Directors is made up of shipowners from various nations and shipping sectors – ferry and shortsea vessels, cruise ships, reefers, high quality tankers and operators of dry bulk carriers – no group goes unheard or unrepresented. The Board holds regular meetings to review proposals affecting the shipping industry, develop strategies and delegations from the BSA also meet annually with regulatory bodies such as the US Coast Guard, the US Environmental Protection Agency and the European Commission. Representatives from the BSA also regularly attends the IMO Committees and Sub-Committees as well as the ICS Committees, Sub-Committees and Panels where the BSA promotes the views of its members.