The Tribune

By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

IN the interest of port safety, the Bahamas Maritime Pilots Association is calling for the immediate removal of an unfit maritime pilot hired to work at the port.

Erin Ferguson, managing director of BMPA, said the pilot is unable to carry out his duties effectively and safely due to a serious medical illness, putting the safety of the port, vessels, and other marine pilots at risk.

The association sent a letter to the Minister of Transport last week expressing their concerns, and has asked that investigations be conducted into the pilot’s medical condition. If the government fails to act, Mr Ferguson said the Bahamas could be cited for International Maritime Organization (IMO) violations.

“We have talked to our partners at the International Maritime Pilots Association which has a seat at IMO. They told us to alert the relevant authorities and if they do not respond they will cite the Bahamas for IMO violations,” he said.

Mr Ferguson said that marine pilots employed at the harbour have also sent a letter to Port executive Godfrey Smith of their concerns.

“They are not comfortable working with this pilot or getting on ships with him because they feel it is unsafe,” he said. According to Mr Ferguson, the same pilot had been involved in a crash incident at the BORCO jetty.

The pilot, he said, is known to take dialysis treatments at the Kidney Centre. “He is showing physical and visible signs of weakness; he takes seated breaks after walking upstairs and is discoloured.

“The pilots have expressed all of this in the email and have asked that he not be made a pilot, but port officials say they have spoken to his doctor and that he is fine.”

According to international standards, Mr Ferguson said pilots with serious medical conditions are not allowed to pilot. “If he pilots a cruise ship and an incident happens we can lose that cruise line forever. We have experienced that with the MSC cruise ship that beached at Port Lucaya; they have decided not to bring their ships here anymore,” he said.

Mr Ferguson said the association is seeking to establish independent pilotage in Freeport.