Meeting in London and 30 years of BMA
On September 2, 2025, Aleksandra Ratajska represented PRS at a meeting of organizations recognized by the Bahamas Maritime Authority (BMA) held at the Royal Institution of Naval Architects’ office in London.
Key discussion points
At the meeting, which coincided with the 30th anniversary of the BMA Administration (established in 1995), many topics important to cooperation were discussed, including audits of recognized organizations, remote ship surveys, regulations on reducing greenhouse gas emissions (GHG), working conditions on ships, and port state control (PSC). At the end of the meeting, Capt. Dwain E. Hutchinson, Managing Director and CEO of BMA, presented commemorative gifts to representatives of the recognized organizations.
PRS authorization
PRS obtained authorization from the Bahamas Maritime Authority to act on its behalf in 2014. It is currently one of 12 classification societies authorized to conduct statutory certification and provide services to ships flying this flag and companies that service them. Currently, 27 ships of this flag are in PRS class, representing 8.21% of the entire PRS fleet.
History and significance of BMA
Although the first vessel was registered under the Bahamas flag in 1977, the BMA was officially established in July 1995. Its London office opened that same year.
Fleet under The Bahamas
The Bahamas currently ranks as one of the largest registries in the world, with over 50 million GT of ships flying its flag. It boasts a diverse and extensive portfolio of vessels. Although the Bahamas is most associated with the cruise fleet, passenger ships constitute only 11% of all vessels in the registry. The majority of the fleet consists of general cargo ships (15%), tankers (12%), and bulk carriers (16%), while vessels supporting the oil and gas industry (offshore) constitute 17% of all registered vessels.
Highlights about the Bahamas Maritime Authority
Among the more interesting facts about the BMA is the admission of the first FLNG (Floating Liquefied Natural Gas) vessel to the register in 2022, with a gross tonnage of 346,165 GT, making it the largest vessel of any type under this flag. Since 2009, the world’s largest cruise ship, Oasis of the Seas, owned by Royal Caribbean, has also sailed under the Bahamas flag.
