South Atlantic islands unite for maritime best-practice
Report and photos from Tristan Government UK representative Chris Carnegy
South Atlantic Working Group delegates, including
Tristan Chief Islander James Glass (7th from the left) alongside Chris Carnegy
and far right former Tristan Administrator Alex Mitham, representing St Helena
where he is now Director of Safety, Security and Home Affairs.
Tristan da Cunha linked with fellow South Atlantic territories at the inaugural face-to-face meeting of a new body that aims to promote best practice in maritime regulation.
Conference in session
The South Atlantic Working Group brings together key personnel from Tristan, St Helena, Ascension, the Falklands and South Georgia. It is part of the 'Red Ensign Group' of maritime jurisdictions who have links with the UK. The South Atlantic delegates met in Jersey on the 17th June 2024, ahead of the REG's three-day annual conference held there on June 18th - 20th.
James Glass in St Helier's port control tower, with coastguard Ford Ramsden
For Chief Islander and Director of Fisheries James Glass, the regional gathering was a chance to update colleagues on how vessel inspections work on Tristan, to learn of an opportunity for pollution-control training, and to progress plans for new navigation beacons on Tristan's outer islands. The group also discussed the challenge of adopting international safety standards in ways that recognise the capacity issues of small and remote locations.
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Above: Kirsten Morel, Jersey's minister for sustainable economic development, rang the bell to open the Red Ensign Group conference. Right: Chief Islander with conference chair Katy Ware, Director of UK Maritime Services at the Maritime and Coastguard Agency. |
The wider Red Ensign event covered many topics, from regulation of the high seas to marine safety messaging and from international sanctions to the welfare of mariners.
That last topic was of special relevance for Tristan da Cunha as the island will always seek to ensure high standards for the well-being of seafarers in its fishing fleet, as well as high standards for the vessels themselves.
Tristan's flag flying in St Helier, capital of Jersey
Delegates were also invited on a behind-the-scenes tour of Jersey's commercial port in St Helier. Pictured with our host in front of some road trailers, James learned they're used to ship Jersey's main arable crop. Like Tristan, Jersey is famous for its potatoes - but the Channel Island exports up to 20,000 tonnes each year!
James with Ports of Jersey operations manager Robin Fitzgerald
In the margins of the conference, James held talks with officials from the UK's Maritime and Coastguard Agency, exploring ways Tristan can access support for training and safety equipment.
At St Helier's maritime museum, James gave vital help to interpret a giant globe!