From:TheBahamasWeekly.com
BMPA Statement on Marine Pilots in Freeport, Grand Bahama
By Erin A. Ferguson
Mar 10, 2014 - 5:26:33 PM
Nassau, Bahamas -
The Bahamas Maritime Pilots Association (BMPA) would like to address the issue of clarity on Marine Pilots in
Freeport. Our member Pilots have resigned from both Buckeye Partners LP/BORCO and Freeport Harbour
Company (FHC), they have not been fired. Two of our members were fired on December 31st 2013 which we
viewed as a possible intimidation tactic used by FHC to hault the progress of the BMPA's push towards Independent
Pilotage.
The Full compliment of Pilots at FHC was 9 Pilots as of December 2013, they fired 2 Pilots as a supposed
intimidation tactic to the BMPA. That left a balance of 7 Pilots. Of the 7 Pilots remaining 5 have resigned from FHC.
FHC is left with 2 Pilots. We would like to make it clear as well that the only 2 remaining Pilots at FHC are the
Port Director, Orlando Forbes, and Ellison Charles Rolle, Marine Manager. Their duties also obviously includes
Administrative functions. Additionally the Harbour company hired one additional Pilot in January 2014 whom we
do not account for in the number of Pilots because the BMPA has filed a medical investigation complaint with the
Ministry of Transportation. This Pilot has a very serious illness and should not under any circumstances be
operating as a Pilot.
Buckeye Partners LP/BORCO had 9 Pilots in total, 6 of them resigned. This means 3 remaining Pilots and 1 of them
is the Marine Manager, who is on light duty for injury to his leg. Buckeye Partners LP/BORCO only has 2 Pilots
remainng, one of which is a trainee.
Simply put, this means in total there were 18 Pilots servicing the needs of both FHC and Buckeye Partners
LP/BORCO as of December 2013. Once the resignation notice period expires on March 28, 2014 and all of the
memeber Pilots of the BMPA are officially out of the companies, there will only be 4 qualified Pilots, one of
which is a trainee available to do the Job that was already a strain for 18 Pilots to do.
Our claims of Freeport being an “unsafe harbour” are quite sound. Any Maritme proffessional examining the
complete Neglect of the Anchorage area where in one week of October 2013 a ship's anchor was dropped on BTC
cable, resulting in a stop of all communications in Grand Bahama, including emergency services, and the same
week the Formosa Falcon Tanker was Beached off Eight Mile Rock filled with 2 million Gallons of Fuel Oil. Just last
week two ships on Anchorage drifted into each other and collided because of a change in currents. Clearly there
should be Pilots on the Anchorage, FHC and Buckeye Partners LP/BORCO has taken no action.
The Bahamas Maritime Pilots Association (BMPA) would like to invite All Maritime Industry Stakeholders to join as
we engage in a very important discussion on the EMERGENCY CONCLAVE: STATE OF PILOTAGE & SAFETY IN
FREEPORT. We have invited some of our partners from Pilot Associations worldwide to join us in discussion about
Best Practices, International Maritime Organization (IMO) Standards, Insurance Requirements, and Safety and
Training guidelines. 7 pm on Monday, March 10, 2014 at the Pelican Bay Hotel Convention Centre- Coral and Reef
room (4 th floor). Our Special Guests will include Nick Cutmore, Secretary General of the International Maritime
Pilots Association (IMPA), and Captain Kurt Duncan, President of the Trinidad and Tobago Pilots Association.
TOPICS: There will be a discussions on a range of issues including the Pilots' Resignations, Anchorage,
HarborLights Software, Role of the Marine Pilot, Major Safety Concerns, Proper Training Standards, Insurance
and Liability, Maritime Law in the Bahamas, Port Authority in Freeport, Major Maritime Incidents, Maritime
Industry and the Economy.
If you have any questions, please contact Erin A. Ferguson, Managing Director, Bahamas Maritime Pilots
Association at erinaferguson@gmail.com or 242-552-3277.
BMPA has been organised to encourage safe and responsible operation of marine pilots and other marine
professionals; to develop advice and guidance for best industrial practice among its members and promote criteria for
best practice to all who have responsibilities for, or interest in, offering professional maritime pilotage services.
BMPA's principal role will be to advocate measures to enhance the safety of life and property at sea and pollution. It
will represent the interests of its members, in matters concerning the safe operation of pilotage and marine services
offered in The Commonwealth of The Bahamas, to local and regional bodies and the International Maritime
Organisation (IMO). It will consult with the IMO, government agencies and other non-governmental organisations.
BMPA has also formed strategic relationships with International Maritime Pilots Association (IMPA), Trinidad &
Tabago Pilots' Association, American Pilots Association (APA), the Organization of Black Maritime Graduates, SUNY
Maritime College, and several Pilot Associations in the United States including, Florida Harbour Pilots, Tampa Bay
Pilots, Cape Canaveral Pilots, Biscayne Bay Pilots, Port Everglades Pilots, Sandy Hook Pilots of New York and New
Jersey, and Houston Pilots.
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