Maritime administrators gathered this week in Rodney Bay Marina, Saint Lucia to strengthen regional cooperation in maritime governance and capacity development in the Caribbean shipping sector.
The fourth regional meeting of Directors and Heads of Maritime Administration (30 June–2 July) provided a platform to discuss shared challenges and exchange best practices, with a focus on building the region’s capacity to uphold global maritime security standards and implement international maritime instruments.
Organized by the IMO in collaboration with the Government of Saint Lucia, the meeting advanced regional dialogue in areas such as digitalization, automation and promoting gender equality in the industry. Representatives from Caribbean Member States, regional institutions, port and flag State authorities, and maritime educational organizations explored key developments such as:
- advancements in port operations;
- a new thematic approach to capacity development; and
- the intersection of climate change and shipping, with a focus on building resilience and supporting sustainable maritime transport.
Participants discussed opportunities for technical assistance and how to access support under IMO’s Integrated Technical Cooperation Programme (ITCP).
The meeting contributed to advancing IMO’s objectives of promoting safe, secure, and sustainable shipping, while ensuring no Member State is left behind.