Date of Award
1997
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Master of Science in Maritime Affairs
Specialization
Maritime Safety Administration
Campus
Malmö, Sweden
Country
The Gambia
First Advisor
Plant, Glen
Abstract
This dissertation is a study of the existing maritime infrastructure and arrangements for the enhancement of safety of life at sea and the protection of the marine environment in The Gambia, through the implementation of the international conventions relevant to the subject. IMO, UN and ILO conventions with respect to The Gambia and the status of the national maritime legislation are examined. A comparison is made between the actual status of the maritime legislation and presumed status; i.e what is contained in the Laws of the Gambia pertaining to maritime matters, versus what has been ratified. The comparison reveals a wide gap between the two and suggestions are made on how to update the existing legislation. The urgent need for the creation of an autonomous specialised agency, a Maritime Administration/Maritime Safety Administration (MARAD) under the Ministry of Works and Communication has been emphasised. Its supposed roles and functions e.g advisory, administrative and regulatory role and developmental/promotional role are discussed. The development of an adequate system of survey, inspection and certification of all types and sizes of ships/crafts, the role of Port State Control (PSC) and the International Safety Management Code (ISM Code), especially, the latter, as it touches on human element is discussed. Finally, conclusion and recomendations are made for a government action on putting the maritime legislation in order, policy on the the adoption , implementation and enforcement of international maritime treaties, and the esatblishment of a Maritime Safety Administration unit, to co-ordinate all these activities.