Bertrand Smith appointed MAJ director general

Bertrand ‘Bert’ Smith has been appointed the director general of the Maritime Authority of Jamaica (MAJ) with his tenure starting on April 2, 2024.

Smith is an attorney-at-law with over 25 years of experience in the shipping industry with expertise in maritime and international law, and prior to his appointment served as director, legal affairs and a member of the Authority’s senior executive team.

Smith is the second director general of the MAJ succeeding Rear Admiral Brady and has been the primary driving force for modernising Jamaica’s maritime legal framework including the ratification and implementation of a number of International Maritime Organization and International Labour Organization conventions and the promulgation of legislation to regulate shipping in Jamaica.

He currently chairs national committees responsible for the implementation of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) and Ballast Water Management Conventions and is spearheading Jamaica’s efforts to accede to the International Convention on the Facilitation of Maritime Traffic which will provide for the establishment of a maritime single window for the electronic clearance of ships.

Smith also served as the attorney for the MAJ’s mega yacht and commercial ship registries, advising on a wide range of matters including ship and mortgage registration and seafarer claims while providing guidance to local and overseas counsel and members of the shipping community on shipping and admiralty law matters.

EXPERTISE IN MARITIME LAW

As the director of legal affairs Smith was the corporate secretary for the board of the MAJ and ensured that the Authority maintained compliance with its corporate governance and treaty obligations while providing advice to the Board of Trustees of the Pension Scheme. He also serves as a member of the Fisheries Appeal Tribunal established under the Fisheries Act.

Smith has led Jamaican delegations at the regional and international level and is the current head of delegation to two major IMO Committees, namely the Legal Committee and the Marine Environment Protection Committee and continues to be a key member of Jamaica’s delegation which has successfully campaigned for re-lection to the IMO Council. He also represents Jamaica at the International Oil Pollution Compensation Funds and at maritime-related ILO meetings.

He has been the national focal point for the implementation of a number IMO/UNDP global projects with a focus on the protection of the marine environment and he currently serves as a member of the IMO Panel of Experts on the STCW Convention. His expertise in maritime law led to his engagement by the IMO and in the region on matters related the implementation of MARPOL Annex VI and merchant shipping legislation, respectively.

“With a strong Board of Directors, a capable and professional staff and the foundation laid by Rear Admiral Brady, the MAJ is in a great position to address the “3Ds” of decarbonisation of the shipping industry, digitalisation of the industry and data protection while building out the local maritime cluster and providing leadership for the region at the IMO.

“Partnerships will play a big role in the modernisation of the Jamaican shipping industry and the promotion of sustainable shipping in our waters and the MAJ looks forward to deepening its partnerships with the private and public stakeholders in the local and international shipping industry.”

Smith, a graduate of the Norman Manley Law School and the World Maritime University in Sweden, has published and presented papers on a wide range of law topics locally and overseas including the ISPS Code and international maritime law and is the current chair of the Maritime Law Committee of the Jamaican Bar Association.