BRADY
REAR ADMIRAL Peter Brady, director-general of the Maritime Authority of Jamaica was recently in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, at the invitation of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), as a consultant and lead instructor for the IMO's maritime security 'Train-the-Trainer' course.
Recognising the lead taken by Jamaica in the implementation of the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code, the IMO thought it fitting that in attempting to build a group of experts, trained in the delivery of its model ISPS course, that Jamaica should play a lead role.
Rear Admiral Peter Brady, who was also instrumental in the development of the IMO maritime security policy, was invited to deliver on policy and legislative matters concerning maritime security amendments to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) and the ISPS Code.
"This was a good opportunity for the maritime authority to demonstrate its commitment to the endeavours of the IMO to enhance maritime security in ships and at port facilities," Brady said. "On a more general level, our participation in the delivery of the course also served to raise Jamaica's maritime security posture internationally, which is critical for our image, especially in light of negative publicity regarding piracy in our waters."
He added, "We need to demonstrate that we take maritime security seriously and participation in these activities is one important way of doing this."
According to the IMO, "Graduates of this programme will be expected to assist in training other instructors on a cascade basis, both regionally and nationally. The intention is that IMO will train the first instructors on a regional basis.
"These graduates, assisted by IMO experts, will then train further instructors. This form of cascade training should result in a significant increase in the number of people trained to a standard consistent with the IMO expectations."
The course was attended by instructors at maritime training institutions in Canada, as well as personnel assigned to maritime security related instructional duties from Transport Canada, U.S. Coastguard, the Canadian and U.S. shipping industry. Captain Lennox Bailey, director of safety, environment and certification at the MAJ, was Jamaica's candidate on this course.
A similar course will be staged in Jamaica on June 27 to July 1 to be conducted by the MAJ. The final date of the course falls on the first anniversary of the implementation date of the ISPS Code, with which Jamaica's ships and designated port facility were in compliance on July 1, 2004.
