Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance of The Bahamas, the Honourable Peter Turnquest has officially opened the Bahamas Maritime Authority’s (BMA) new office at Nishi-Shinbashi in the heart of Tokyo. The office will provide direct service to the Japanese maritime market, the world’s second largest in terms of vessel tonnage.

Said Deputy Prime Minister Turnquest, “I am proud to represent the Most Honourable Hubert A. Minnis, Prime Minister, the Government and people of The Bahamas at the opening of the The Bahamas Maritime Authority’s Tokyo office. Japan is a great maritime nation, and The Bahamas Ship Registry is one of the world’s top registries. The Opening of our BMA Tokyo office represents an ever closer commitment to serving our valued Japanese shipowner clients. This will benefit the Japanese maritime community, and it will further the growth of The Bahamas Flag, which has been a consistent contributor to our economy.”

To commemorate this important occasion, Deputy Prime Minister Turnquest was joined by Minister of Transport and Local Government, Renward Wells, the Minister responsible for the BMA. “The BMA serves its maritime clients comprehensively, rapidly and proactively. Though we have been registering and administering Japanese-owned vessels for many years, I am confident that our permanent office presence in Tokyo will enable us to further enhance our support for Japanese maritime interests, and build on the BMA’s impressive record of success,” said Minister Wells.

Also in the delegation were (The Bahamas’ non-resident) Ambassador to Japan, Dr. Elwood Donaldson; BMA Board Chair and Deputy Chair, Denise Lewis-Johnson and Peter John Goulandris; Cora Bain-Colebrooke, Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Transport & Local Government; BMA Board Director Cardi Cox; BMA’s Managing Director and CEO Capt. Dwain Hutchinson (London office); Bahamas Shipowners Association Manager Anders Brodje; and senior BMA staff.

Said BMA Chair, Mrs. Lewis-Johnson, “Many have worked hard and long to help make the BMA Tokyo office a reality. We look forward to this office serving both Japan, and The Bahamas, for many years to come.

Bahamas’ vessels are accorded the highest Flag rating by Port States in the Asia Pacific region, the Paris MOU European region, and the US Coast Guard under QUALSHIP 21. This positive rating is beneficial to all Bahamas-flagged shipowners trading their vessels regionally and internationally.

The growth of The Bahamas Registry under The Bahamas Maritime Authority has been a notable success story for The Bahamas. The extension of The Bahamas’ maritime services directly into the vast Japanese market should underpin the Registry’s further growth.

The Bahamas Maritime Authority

Established in 1995, the government-owned Bahamas Maritime Authority (BMA) is responsible for the regulation of Bahamian ships world-wide, the fulfilment of obligations pertaining to The Bahamas as a Flag State, and advising the Government on Maritime Affairs. With its home office in The Bahamas, it has a network of regional offices worldwide in London, Greece, Hong Kong, the USA, and now Japan.

With a fleet of over one thousand five hundred ships, consisting of some sixty-four million gross tons, under Bahamas Flag, the BMA’s reputation for upholding the highest standards of safety, security and environmental protection is well established.

Website: www.bahamasmaritime.com

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