Participants in the Fishing Vessel Operations Course being put through their paces for Safety of Life at Sea exercise. (BDF)

The Barbados Defence Force (BDF) in collaboration with the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and the Blue Economy, Division of Fisheries, recently concluded the Fishing Vessel Operations Course 2021.

The course, facilitated by the BDF maritime unit, the Barbados Coast Guard (BCG), catered to participants from the BCG, the Barbados Regiment, Barbados Cadet Corps and the Royal Barbados Police Force.

The aim of the Course was to improve and train on enhanced methods of fishing vessel operations, while coordinating inter-agency synergies, geared towards the protection and security of Barbados’ Blue Economy.  

Subject matter covered but not limited to included; Crew Management, Safety Of Life At Sea, Voyage Preparations, Towing Drills, Communications and Maritime Law Enforcement.

Commanding Officer of the Barbados Coast Guard, Commander (Cdr) Mark Peterson in his closing ceremony remarks, stated that this course was a basis of what is needed to safeguard the island’s Blue Economy, particularly from a Macro perspective.

He added that these efforts, assist the Government of Barbados to attain its national objectives and remains one of the most important purposes for interagency partnerships and existence.

Cdr Peterson explained that maritime operations are currently being conducted in a volatile, complex and ambiguous environment, compounded by the global pandemic.

The BDF Fishing Vessel Operations Course highlighted the fact that in this multifaceted environment, inclusive of multiple stakeholders with common objectives, success is even more underpinned by the three (3) C’s; collaboration, coordination and communication.

These courses and partner – agency training reinforces the commitment to reduce the inherent vulnerabilities of maritime security, to secure our blue economies are absolute for sustainable development.

This Course demonstrates that partner – synergies, augmented by coordinated training, indicates that all threats are not necessarily transnational in nature, but relates to any hazard that poses a threat or risk to the economic fabric of our country.

Barbados Defence Force

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