The Maritime and Shipping Department informed RTC news that on 1 April 2016, the Maritime Department separated from the Department of Environment and Maritime Affairs (DEMA), to form the Department of Environment and Coastal Resources (DECR).
As a result of this separation, the Maritime and Shipping Department is once again operating on its own although the Department is still currently located at the National Environmental Centre on the Lower Bight Road.
The department RTC has learned will be relocating in the near future.
The Department is advising all local Captains or Skippers who are operating small commercial vessels, in the waters of the Turks and Caicos Islands, and carrying passengers, that they are to be in possession of a boat masters license.
Where the Captain or Skipper of a vessel is operating the vessel and is not in possession of a Boat Master’s License, and where the vessel does not have a certificate of inspection, the Captain, Skipper or owner are to immediately contact the Department.
Vessels that are being driven needs to be fully compliant and in possession of a Certificate of Inspection from the Maritime and Shipping Department.
Persons failing to comply with these regulations will be prosecuted to the full extent of the Merchant Shipping Regulations and the Small Commercial Vessel Code added the release.
