Dear Members,

As you may already know, at the AGM for the Marine Association of the BVI, the election for the position of chair resulted in a tie. Subsequently the election was held online to try and reach a wider number of members. The sitting board voted in favor of certifying the outcome. Engagement from the membership was very good with most eligible members participating in the vote, which is a great sign for the association.

As the new chair for the association, I am committed to ensuring we fully represent our members and ensure your voices are heard. As usual, we will be holding the regular monthly meeting on Wednesday at 12:30pm at VISAR base in Road Reef, on the last Wednesday of the month. I hope you will be able to join us. 

If you ever have matters you’d like to raise, feel free to reach out to us.

Jeremy Twist

Chairperson

Board of Directors | Marine Association of the BVI

Recent updates to the Commercial Recreational Vessel Licensing (CRVL) framework aim to bring clarity, maintain safety standards, and ensure the BVI continues to meet its international maritime obligations. As commercial activity grows, these changes are also designed to support marine safety, strengthen customs operations, and provide clearer vessel classifications and licensing requirements.

We know change isn’t always easy, especially when it involves legislation. With any new framework, there’s a period of working through what it all means in practice. Our goal is to break down the CRVL legislation in a clear and practical way, starting with the basics and building from there. We may not get every detail perfect right away, but through open discussion and shared feedback, we can work through it together.

Please share your thoughts, comments, or questions by emailing us at admin@marinebvi.org or reach out to a board member.

HLSCC has a full calendar of upcoming courses in the new year!  

Courses include: 

RYA Powerboat Level 2; Caribbean Boatmaster Grade 2/3 Prep; RYA Essentials Navigation and Seamanship; Marine VHF Radio; Marine Professional Training (MPT) Level 1; and ABYC (American Boat & Yacht Council) Online Certificate Courses. 

For full details please CLICK HERE.

For more information regarding the show please click HERE.

The Centre for Applied Marine Studies (CAMS) is excited to announce the next Beyond Curriculum Tech Workshop, powered by Marine Max Vacations and Nanny Cay Marina.

This 4-day hands-on workshop will focus on Webasto Air Conditioning Maintenance, Service and Repair, providing the perfect opportunity to upskill your tradecraft and enhance your marine tech expertise. 

As with all Tech Workshops, an American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC) online course is a prerequisite to the in-person component of Beyond Curriculum Courses.

Dates: Friday 8^th November - Monday 11^th November 2024

Times: 9am to 4pm daily

Location: HLSCC CAMS Paraquita Bay Campus and Nany Cay Marina

Pre-requisite: ABYC's Basic Marine Electrical and Corrosion Mitigation online short course (5-10 hours)

Spaces can fill quickly! To register, or for more information, please email marine@hlscc.edu.vg or call 852-7020.

On behalf of the Minister for Finance, please note that you are kindly invited to attend a follow-up Commercial Recreational Vessels Licensing (CRVL) External Stakeholder Meeting with the Hotel and Marine Associations to further discuss the amendments to the CRVL Act and other key pieces of Maritime Legislation.

The meeting will be held at Maria's by the Sea Conference Room on 8th October, 2024 at 5:00 pm.

Your attendance is of utmost importance as we continue to chart the course forward.

Mark your calendars for Spring Regatta 2024 from April 1-7 at Nanny Cay.  For more details click HERE.