Saudi Arabia and The Bahamas convened at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) headquarters in London during the 49th Session of the Facilitation Committee to explore avenues for enhanced bilateral cooperation in the maritime sector, on March 11, 2025
The Saudi delegation, led by Permanent Representative Eng. Kamal Al Junaidi, met with The Bahamas’ delegation, headed by the Hon. JoBeth Coleby-Davis, Minister of Energy and Transport, and Paul Rolle, Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the IMO.
The discussions centered on advancing collaboration in key areas such as seafarer education, digital transformation, and global trade facilitation. Both nations reaffirmed their commitment to driving innovation and sustainability in the maritime industry, aiming to build a more resilient and inclusive sector.
Saudi Arabia’s Maritime Initiatives
Eng. Al Junaidi highlighted Saudi Arabia’s ongoing partnerships with the IMO, including participation in initiatives like IMOCARES, GloLitter, GloFouling, and GloNoise. He also introduced the NextWave project, a newly launched program designed to provide maritime training opportunities for cadets from Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and Least Developed Countries (LDCs) aboard Bahri ships.
In response, The Bahamas showcased its own efforts in maritime education, particularly through the Bahamas Maritime Authority’s STCW training programs for seafarers.
Promoting Next Generation, Gender Diversity
A key focus of the meeting was the development of the next generation of maritime professionals and the promotion of gender diversity in the sector. Saudi Arabia shared the success of its women-only maritime training program, which garnered over 600 applications, underscoring the growing interest among women in pursuing maritime careers.
Digital Transformation, Port Innovation
Dr. Majed Al Malik, Vice President of Shared Services and Digital Transformation at MAWANI, also participated in the discussions, exchanging insights with Bahamian counterparts on port digitization strategies. He highlighted Saudi Arabia’s achievements in implementing its Maritime Single Window system, a critical step toward achieving the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 goal of becoming a global logistics hub. Both delegations agreed to explore future collaboration on digital infrastructure, data management, and the implementation of Long-Range Identification and Tracking (LRIT) systems to enhance maritime domain awareness across The Bahamas’ archipelago.
Strengthening Bilateral Ties
To commemorate the meeting, the Hon. JoBeth Coleby-Davis and Eng. Kamal Al Junaidi exchanged gifts, symbolizing the strengthening of bilateral ties. Saudi Arabia also extended an invitation to The Bahamas to participate in the Sustainable Maritime Industry Conference (SMIC), scheduled for September 2025, further solidifying their commitment to shared progress in the maritime sector.
This meeting marks a significant step forward in fostering international collaboration to address global maritime challenges and promote sustainable development in the industry.
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