The Tribune

By RASHAD ROLLE

Tribune Staff Reporter

rrolle@tribunemedia.net

THE Bahamas government has intervened in a dispute between Freeport marine pilots and various entities and has promised to grant the Freeport Pilotage Company Limited a license to operate in Freeport.

The decision – which might help resolve a conflict that some believe threatens Grand Bahama’s industrial economy – was noted during meetings between government representatives and relevant stakeholders in Grand Bahama last week.

Nonetheless, Bahamas Maritime Pilots Association President Captain Kendall Williamson added in a press statement yesterday that “no clear resolution has been achieved in the negotiations” for all of the BMPA members that have resigned from Buckeye Partners LP/BORCO and Freeport Harbour Company (FHC) amid safety concerns and a desire to provide pilotage services that are independent of commercial interests.

Mr Williamson said: “The only issue holding up progress on a solution is the Grand Bahama Port Authority (GBPA) hindering a licensee of the Port Area, namely Freeport Pilotage Company Limited, from operating in the Port Area.”

Noting that Freeport Pilotage Company Limited (FPCL) “has a valid GBPA license,” Mr Williamson said: “GBPA is frustrating the process intentionally because the board members of GBPA are also owners of Port Group Limited (PGL) which has ownership and interest in FHC. GBPA president Ian Rolle is also the president of Port Group Limited. GBPA is not acting in accordance with their duty to be an objective regulator according to Hawksbill Creek Agreement with the government.”

As a consequence, Mr Williamson said the “BMPA has applied for a Bahamas Government Business License to operate in Freeport, which has been agreed to be expedited.”

He noted that the Bahamas government licensed companies can operate “in the Port Area (Freeport) as long as their business office is located in Grand Bahama and not Freeport.”

Mr Williamson added: “We urge the government to send technical officers skilled in the maritime area in order to assure that proper maritime safety standards are met and maintained. Especially in light of companies’ claims to have adequate pilots when that is clearly not the case, pilots have been dangerously operating on 24-hour schedules without adequate rest time.”

He added: “As a result of the resignations taking effect there are unusual delays causing a backup of ships to be serviced by both companies. BMPA has made it clear to all parties involved that we are prepared to provide all of our licensed Pilots immediately to clear up any delays and back ups, in the interest of national security, environment, safety and commerce.”

Meanwhile, two foreign insurance companies have already urged their sea captains to be “particularly vigilant” when entering and leaving Freeport.

The West of England and the Britannia Steam Ship Insurance Association have both released statements noting the conflict at the port, adding: “Masters of ships due to call at Freeport are advised to be particularly vigilant when entering and leaving the port under pilotage and to seek further information from local correspondents and port agents.”

The pilots who resigned from the Freeport Harbour Compnay and BORCO say that they want to form an independent entity in accordance with International Maritime Organisation (IMO) requirements.

In response, their former employees have downplayed their safety concerns and have accused them of being motivated by profit.

In a previous statement, Transport and Aviation Minister Glenys Hanna-Martin described the conflict as an “industrial issue between employers and employees.”

At that time she said the government was closely monitoring the situation, but was not minded to intervene.