The Bahamas and China signed a bilateral Maritime Agreement Thursday afternoon, which will pave the way for smoother flow of maritime traffic and trade, where each country will practically treat ships and cargo from the other country as their own.
The agreement between the two governments applies to all Bahamian-registered ships, regardless of the nationality of the owner, and to all Bahamian owners, regardless of where their ships are registered.
The agreement also applies to all Chinese-registered ships and owners operating under that country’s flag, and makes it cheaper for persons with Bahamian registered vessels to enter Chinese ports. The discussion on the agreement was successfully concluded at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Chinese Delegation included the Vice-Minister of Communications of the People’s Republic of China His Excellency Shanxiang Hong and the Executive Vice-President of the China Ocean Shipping Company Americas Wang Yuhang.
The principal issue that the agreement addresses is that of comparatively high port charges currently levied against Bahamian registered vessels calling on Chinese ports.
It also grants to both Bahamian and Chinese ships the Most Favoured Nation treatment, in respect of port access, port stay and utilisation of port facilities.
Other issues covered in the agreement include recognition by each party, certificates of registry and other ship and crew documentation issued by the other party.
Transport and Aviation Minister Glenys HannaMartin pointed to the importance of the agreement for the Bahamas, which has the world’s third largest fleet of international ships on its register. “This fleet operates worldwide and as such, it is critical that it enjoys the freedom to trade without restriction,” Minister Hanna Martin said.
The agreement is also significant because China is becoming a major force in international shipping, and is now the world’s third largest shipbuilder, with many Bahamian-registered ships being built there.
Recently, the largest Chinese shipping company, China Ocean Shipping Company, whose vice-president is a member of the Chinese delegation, placed three of its large, newly-built, containerised ships on the Bahamas ship register.
Fufther, the major Chinese construction company, Hutchison Whampoa, has been involved in port construction and management in the Bahamas and many other major shipping centres in Europe and the United States.
Foreign Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell said the signing of the agreement between the two countries is especially important, as it comes on the cusp of the sixth anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Bahamas and China.
“It shows and reinforces the good relationship between the two countries and we certainly know and expect better things to come in the future between China and ourselves,” he said.
His Excellency Shanxiang Hong, vice minister of communications of the People’s Republic of China said the conclusion of the bilateral maritime agreement between the Bahamas and China will definitely bring greater benefits for future cooperation and a future of opportunities in the maritime sector.
“China is a large country and we share a lot in the maritime sector with the Bahamas,” he said. “We have a lot of common ground.”
By Rogan M. Smith, The Bahama Journal
