Maritime Authority Of Jamaica

What Maritime Authority Of Jamaica does

The Maritime Authority of Jamaica (MAJ) is a government statutory body established on January 1, 1999 under the Shipping Act 1998, replacing the previously applied UK Merchant Shipping Act of 1894. Headquartered at the Office Centre Building, 12 Ocean Boulevard in Kingston, Jamaica, the Authority administers Jamaica's maritime affairs on behalf of the state under the oversight of the Ministry of Science, Energy, Telecommunications and Transport. Its operational core is the Jamaica Ship Registry (JSR), launched in October 2000, which registers commercial ships, yachts, ships under construction, and small/domestic vessels under the Jamaican open-registry model that permits foreign ownership without incorporation requirements and places no restriction on crew nationality.

The MAJ generates revenue from four primary fee streams: ship registration fees (vessels and mortgages), seafarer certification fees (Certificates of Competency, Certificates of Proficiency, and endorsements), survey and inspection services (annual safety inspections on 1,200+ local vessels and port state control inspections on foreign vessels), and local trade operation certificates. The Authority delivers services globally through a network of Deputy Registrars in Finland, Ukraine, China, Malta, Florida (two offices), and Monaco, supported by four online portals — certification.maritimejamaica.com, pay.maritimejamaica.com, drm.maritimejamaica.com (crew changes), and cruise.maritimejamaica.com. Technical services include statutory surveys, ISM audits, tonnage measurement, port state control, marine casualty investigations, and marine environment compliance (ballast water, sludge, MARPOL implementation).

The Authority's competitive position rests on statutory authority (Shipping Act 1998), IMO White List status, ISO 9001:2015 certification, recognition of all IACS member classification societies, and continuous re-election to the IMO Council Category C (most recently for the 2024-2025 biennium). Jamaica also hosts the CMOU Port State Control Secretariat and serves as Lead Pilot Country for the IMO GloMEEP emissions-reduction project. Seafarer training is delivered through an exclusive oversight relationship with Caribbean Maritime University (CMU), the only IMO-approved maritime training institution in the English-speaking Caribbean, with approximately 95% of Jamaican seafarers on global shipping lines being CMU graduates. Current registry includes 34 internationally trading vessels over 24 meters (17 with European beneficial ownership) and over 1,500 local vessels, with recorded mortgages totaling USD 34M.

Name

Maritime Authority Of Jamaica

Legal name

Maritime Authority of Jamaica

Website

https://maritimejamaica.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Maritime Authority of Jamaica is a Jamaican government statutory body that administers ship registration, seafarer certification, maritime safety inspections, and port state control services under the Shipping Act 1998, operating the Jamaica Ship Registry globally through its Kingston headquarters and six-country Deputy Registrar network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Maritime Regulatory and Ship Registry Services

NAICS

Support Activities for Water Transportation (4883), Regulation, Licensing, and Inspection of Miscellaneous Commercial Sectors (92615), Navigational Services to Shipping (488330)

SIC

Water Transportation (4400)

akta.pro primary industry

Ship & Port Security Audits, Inspections & Certification (Flag/Class/PSC Support) (TLAHANAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Port Dues, Permitting & Regulatory Clearances (TLAHAFAD), Port Call Clearance & Documentation (Arrival/Departure, Customs/Immigration/Health) (TLAHAJAA)

Keywords

• Ship registration services
• Seafarer certification
• Flag state administration
• Maritime regulatory services
• Vessel inspection surveys

Headquarters

HQ city

Kingston

HQ country

Jamaica

HQ region

Latin America

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Ship Registration Fees: Fees collected for vessel registration including commercial ships, pleasure craft/yachts, and ships under construction
2. Seafarer Certification Fees: Fees for certification of seafarers including Certificates of Competency, Certificates of Proficiency, and endorsements
3. Survey and Inspection Services: Annual safety inspections on over 1200 local vessels and port state control inspections on foreign vessels calling at Jamaican ports
4. Local Trade Operations: Certification fees for foreign vessels operating commercially in Jamaican waters under local trade certificates

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Maritime Authority of Jamaica operates the Jamaica Ship Registry and provides maritime regulatory and technical services including ship registration for commercial vessels, yachts, ships under construction and small vessels; seafarer certification under STCW; statutory, annual and intermediate surveys; port state control inspections; marine environment compliance services (ballast water, MARPOL); and local trade operation certification. It generates revenue through registration fees, certification fees, survey and inspection fees, and related service charges, supported by online portals and a global Deputy Registrar network.

Product overview

The Maritime Authority of Jamaica (MAJ) operates the Jamaica Ship Registry (JSR) as its core platform for ship registration and maritime regulation. The JSR platform encompasses vessel registration services for commercial ships, yachts, ships under construction, and small vessels, supported by integrated online services including the MAJ Certification Portal for seafarer credentials, the Online Payment System, Crew Change Application System, and Cruise Permit Application System. Technical services include marine environment management (ballast water, sludge), survey services (statutory, annual, ISM audits), and seafarer certification. The MAJ also provides local trade operation certification, mortgage administration for vessels, and facilitates maritime training through approved institutions. All services operate under Jamaica's Shipping Act 1998 and align with IMO conventions including MARPOL, STCW, and ISPS Code.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Jamaica Ship Registry (JSR) Core ship registration service for commercial ships, pleasure craft, ships under construction, and demise charter/bareboat registration. Provides vessel registration, mortgage administration, and regulatory oversight for ships flying the Jamaican flag, administered via a three-step process (establish vessel acceptability, submit application and fees, fulfil technical requirements).
• Yacht Registration Service Registration service for private, private charter, and commercial yachts under the Jamaica Ship Registry. Provides access to 19 ports of registry including Montego Bay, Falmouth, and Port Antonio, with certificates available for 1 or 4 years and no restriction on crew nationality. Targets yacht owners and operators.
• Ships Under Construction Registration Registration service for ships being constructed in Jamaica, facilitating mortgage security during the construction period as provided under the Shipping Act, 1998. Targets shipbuilders and financiers of newbuild vessels.
• Seafarer Certification Services End-to-end seafarer certification services including certification of seafarers, revalidation of certificates, endorsement attesting to further training, oral and practical examinations, and approval of training institutions. Targets Jamaican and Caribbean seafarers seeking STCW-compliant credentials for international shipping.
• Technical Survey Services Comprehensive survey and inspection services including statutory, annual, and intermediate surveys, pre-registration surveys, flag state inspections, ISM audits, tonnage measurement, port state control, marine casualty investigations, LRIT conformance, and issuance of exemptions, extensions, and approval letters. Targets ship owners and operators requiring flag state compliance.
• Marine Environment Services Technical services addressing marine environmental protection including air, water, and land pollution from ships, ballast water management, and sludge handling in compliance with MARPOL conventions. Targets ship owners and operators requiring environmental compliance.
• Small Vessel Registration and Certification Registration and safety certification services for non-convention vessels under 500 gross tonnage operating in Jamaican waters or internationally, including domestic vessels and local trade operations. Targets operators of small commercial and charter vessels in local trade.

Quantifiable outcome

• Jamaica ranked first in Caribbean and eighth in Latin America for cargo movements with 1.56 million TEUs in 2017
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Jamaican Yacht Registration Services (Will Nock)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 30 August 2022Will Nock appointed as Deputy Registrar representing Jamaica Ship Registry for yacht registration in USA market space. He has 20 years maritime experience including work at ABS and a leading mega yacht registry. Contact: 12555 Orange Drive, Suite 4217, Davie, FL33330.
• International Maritime Organization (IMO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJamaica is an active member of IMO and was re-elected to Category C of the IMO Council for 2024-2025 biennium. MAJ participates in multiple IMO committees including MSC, MEPC, STW, FSI, Legal, Council, and Technical Cooperation. Jamaica is Lead Pilot Country for GloMEEP project to reduce shipping emissions.
• Caribbean Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control (CMOU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJamaica hosts the Secretariat for the CMOU, a regional collaboration among CARICOM and other states for uniform Port State control inspection requirements. The organization aims to eliminate sub-standard shipping in the Caribbean through an active ship inspection programme.
• International Seabed AuthoritycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJamaica hosts the International Seabed Authority established by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) 1982. This UN body regulates deep seabed mining in international waters.
• Caribbean Maritime University (CMU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMAJ works closely with CMU (formerly Caribbean Maritime Institute) to ensure seafarers trained are of highest quality. MAJ approves syllabus, examines candidates for certification, and conducts monitoring and periodic audits. CMU is the only IMO approved training institution in English-speaking Caribbean.
• Women in Maritime Association Caribbean (WiMAC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJamaica supports WiMAC for gender equality in maritime. MAJ Deputy Director General Claudia Grant has called for revival of Jamaica's WiMAC chapter to progress mentoring and career promotion work.
• Port Authority of JamaicacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on port operations and maritime development; PAJ signed 10-year towage concession with Ocean for Port of Kingston; CMA CGM operates Kingston Freeport Terminal under 30-year concession.
• ExmarcoreOthersExmar is an international shipping company specializing in LNG carriage that actively recruits CMU graduates - approximately 120 male and female graduates over 3-5 years. Reports excellent performance from Jamaican seafarers.
• IACS Member Classification SocietiescoreTechnology or IntegrationJamaica recognizes all International Association of Classification Societies (IACS) members for ship surveys and inspections. Two non-IACS Recognized Organizations are also appointed. ROs are consistently assessed to maintain desired technical service standards.
• GloMEEP Project PartnersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAs Lead Pilot Country for GloMEEP (Global Maritime Energy Efficiency Partnerships Project), Jamaica works to transfer knowledge on reducing shipping emissions to rest of Caribbean and other SIDS.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Bermuda Shipping and Maritime Authority: Small but premium-quality open registry known for high safety standards and yacht/super-yacht registrations. Comparable to MAJ in target segments and service breadth, especially in the yacht market.
• Panama Maritime Authority: Operates the world's largest ship registry by tonnage, offering open-registry features including foreign ownership and minimal restrictions. Directly comparable scale and service offering to MAJ's ship registration franchise.
• Isle of Man Ship Registry: Established British Crown Dependency open registry offering competitive fees, quality reputation, and English Common Law. Comparable to MAJ in offering internationally credible registration with flexible ownership structures.
• Malta Transport Centre / Malta Maritime Authority: European open registry with global reach, English-language documentation, and an established network of registration services. Compares with MAJ on flag-state services, seafarer certification, and yacht registration.
• Marshall Islands Maritime Administrator (IRI): Operates one of the world's largest open ship registries with foreign ownership permitted, English-language documentation, and global Deputy Registrar network. Directly comparable as a competing flag state offering flexibility and accessibility to international shipowners.
• Liberian Registry / Liberian International Ship & Corporate Registry: Another leading open registry with global Deputy Registrar coverage and a large international fleet. Competes directly with Jamaica for foreign-owned tonnage across commercial ship types and yachts.
• Bahamas Maritime Authority: Caribbean-based flag state administering ship and yacht registration, seafarer certification, and surveys. Closest geographic peer with a similar service mix and Caribbean SIDS positioning.

Regional players

• Cayman Islands Shipping Registry: Caribbean British Overseas Territory registry offering ship registration and seafarer certification with similar regulatory philosophy to MAJ. Comparable regional peer serving yacht and small commercial segments.
• Antigua & Barbuda Department of Maritime Services: Caribbean SIDS flag administration offering ship registration and seafarer services. Directly comparable jurisdiction profile and small-state registry model to MAJ.
• St. Vincent and the Grenadines Maritime Administration: Another Caribbean SIDS open registry competing in the same regional market for yacht and small commercial tonnage. Closely comparable in regulatory style and Caribbean jurisdictional positioning to MAJ.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/MaritimeJa
• Facebookfacebook.com/maritimeauthorityja
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/maritimeauthorityja
• Instagraminstagram.com/maritimeauthorityja

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Maritime Authority Of Jamaica