Jamaica’s Ports Meet Global Safety Standards in International Audit

Jamaica’s continued access to vital maritime trade routes has been safeguarded following a successful international audit verifying the safety of the nation’s ports and harbours.

This achievement has strengthened global confidence in the country’s maritime infrastructure, which supports more than 90 per cent of its trade.

The audit, conducted by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) under its Member State Audit Scheme (IMSAS), assessed Jamaica’s compliance with international maritime obligations, particularly its responsibilities under Chapter V of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) that focuses on navigation safety.

The National Land Agency (NLA), through its Topographic and Hydrographic Surveys Branch, is Jamaica’s primary entity responsible for accurately mapping local waters and ensuring safe maritime navigation.

Acting Manager for the Branch, Diego Billings, emphasised the significance of Jamaica’s successful audit, which reinforces the country’s commitment to maritime safety and international trade. This ensures secure ports for navigation, supports seamless shipping activities, and safeguards vital import and export operations.

Mr. Billings said the NLA’s work, through the Branch, “is critical in ensuring that ships entering Jamaican ports have access to the most up-to-date nautical information… so that they can traverse safely through our waters”.

He noted that to keep nautical charts updated, the NLA is mandated to conduct at least five hydrographic surveys annually – a number that can now increase due to ongoing partnerships with the Port Authority of Jamaica (PAJ) and the Maritime Authority of Jamaica (MAJ).

Mr. Billings said the audit required meeting three key criteria – maintaining up-to-date charts of Jamaica’s ports, harbours, and coastal waters; employing internationally trained personnel (International Hydrographic Organization CAT A and B Hydrographers); and ensuring comprehensive documentation of survey methodologies and nautical chart development.

Ahead of the audit, the NLA conducted extensive mapping operations in key areas, including Kingston Harbour, Ocho Rios, Port Antonio, Lucea Harbour, Mosquito Cove and Pedro Bank, along with all the cays within Jamaica’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

“I am pleased to report that the NLA was the best performing agency throughout this audit, and there were no non-compliances,” Mr. Billings pointed out.

He attributed the audit’s success to his team and the Agency’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Cheriese Walcott, noting that she recognises the importance of hydrography and the NLA’s role in maintaining safe ports and harbours.

He emphasised that her leadership facilitated the proper allocation of resources, enabling the agency to meet its IMO obligations.

Sharing details on each mapping output, he informed JIS News that hydrographic charts – often seen as mere numbers and colours – “provide mariners with essential depth, aids to navigation and hazard data that they use to safely navigate their vessels through our waters”.

These charts and hydrographic data also support key national priorities, including tsunami forecasting, public safety, marine defence, sediment monitoring, environmental studies, and cable and pipeline routing for utilities such as internet providers.

Looking ahead, the Acting Manager noted that Jamaica is taking strategic steps towards producing its own nautical charts – a responsibility currently handled by the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (UKHO).

“Jamaica is set to initiate the development of its own nautical charts in the next two years. We are currently in the procurement phase for specialised software designed to facilitate the chart creation process,” Mr. Billings informed.

Additionally, he said more personnel are being trained as cartographers to further strengthen the national hydrographic capability.

“We will be sending two more individuals off – one this month (June) and one in July, to enrol in the Category B Nautical Cartography Programme, sponsored by the Republic of Korea and the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office’s Category B Geospatial Marine Analysis and Cartography (GEOMAC) Programme,” Mr. Billings indicated.

The IMO’s IMSAS aims to help countries like Jamaica continuously improve their implementation of key maritime instruments by assessing their performance as flag, port, and coastal States.

Passing the audit confirms that Jamaica is fully meeting its responsibilities in ensuring its waters remain safe and navigable.

As Jamaica builds on this success, Mr. Billings is encouraging greater collaboration between public and private-sector entities to support the NLA’s efforts in strengthening the nation’s hydrographic services.

To learn more or to explore partnership opportunities with the NLA, stakeholders are encouraged to send an email to diego.billings@nla.gov.jm or call 876-482-2106 to contribute to the continued safety and economic resilience of Jamaica’s maritime sector.