London, March 21, 2025 – A delegation from Saudi Arabia, led by Permanent Representative to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Eng. Kamal Al Junaidi, met with representatives from The Bahamas, including Minister of Energy and Transport JoBeth Coleby-Davis and Ambassador Paul Rolle, at the IMO headquarters in London on March 11, 2025. The meeting took place during the 49th Session of the Facilitation Committee.
Discussions centered on strengthening bilateral cooperation in the maritime sector, with a focus on seafarer education, digital transformation, and global trade facilitation. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to developing sustainable and innovative solutions to enhance industry resilience.
Eng. Al Junaidi highlighted Saudi Arabia’s partnerships with the IMO through initiatives such as IMOCARES, GloLitter, GloFouling, and GloNoise. He also introduced the NextWave project, aimed at providing cadet training for Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and Least Developed Countries (LDCs) aboard Bahri vessels. The Bahamian delegation shared insights into its maritime education programs, particularly the Bahamas Maritime Authority’s STCW training for seafarers.
Both nations underscored the importance of nurturing the next generation of maritime professionals and increasing women's participation in the sector. Saudi Arabia emphasized the success of its women-only maritime training program, which attracted over 600 applicants, reflecting a rising interest in the field.
Dr. Majed Al Malik, MAWANI’s Vice President of Shared Services and Digital Transformation, engaged in discussions with Bahamian officials on port digitization strategies. Saudi Arabia showcased its advancements in Maritime Single Window implementation and trade efficiency, aligning with its Vision 2030 goal of becoming a global logistics hub. The two delegations agreed to explore collaboration on digital infrastructure, data management, and enhancing The Bahamas’ Long-Range Identification and Tracking (LRIT) system for improved maritime domain awareness.
The meeting concluded with an exchange of commemorative gifts between JoBeth Coleby-Davis and Eng. Kamal Al Junaidi. Saudi Arabia also extended an invitation to The Bahamas to participate in the upcoming Sustainable Maritime Industry Conference (SMIC) in September 2025.