21 September 2023
A States Report has been published setting how Jersey will meet its obligations as a responsible maritime state in line with international standards for marine safety and environmental protection.
The report (R.144/2023) sets out the aims, objectives, and actions Jersey will take to meet the standards set by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the United Nations' agency and the global standard-setting authority for the safety and environmental performance of international shipping.
In May 2022, Jersey was audited as part of a broader audit of all the members of the Red Ensign Group of British shipping registers to assess whether the Island had the capability and resources to satisfy the IMO's standards. Following the audit, this strategy sets out how Jersey will ensure maritime safety and marine environmental protection in accordance these international standards.
The Minister for Economic Development, Tourism, Sport and Culture, Deputy Kirsten Morel, said: "As a responsible maritime jurisdiction, it is our duty to demonstrate that we meet international standards.
"The 2022 audit was broadly positive, but identified that Jersey needed a national maritime strategy in order to demonstrate that we complied with the IMO's standards. The strategy's publication shows that Jersey is serious about meeting its international obligations for safety and environmental protection in our waters.
"We can expect various aspects of our shipping and maritime policy to be reviewed and updated as international standards change over time, and the National Maritime Strategy provides us with the framework to ensure that Jersey is able to continue to remain a responsible jurisdiction."
The Territorial Seas Coordination and Advisory Group (TSCAG), a forum established in 2014 to bring all Government departments with an interest in the territorial seas together, will coordinate the work of all the agencies involved in enforcing the IMO standards, and to provide oversight and advice to Ministers.
In addition to being published as a States Report, the strategy will be submitted to the UK Government for inclusion in the UK's response to the IMO's audit of the Red Ensign Group members for compliance with standards. The Red Ensign Group comprises the UK, the Crown Dependencies and the nine UK Overseas Territories that operate shipping registers.
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