Boat operator licences cost between EC$310 and EC$510 every three years, and crew members must also be certified and licensed. The requirements come into sharper focus following evidence before the Commission of Inquiry into the fatal Anse Cochon boat collision, including an admission that the captain of one of the boats was operating with an expired licence.
With the Commission of Inquiry into the fatal July 18 collision between the Cazorla Jr and Ocean Angel raising questions about licensing and compliance with maritime safety procedures, St Lucia Times sought clarification from the Maritime Affairs Unit on the requirements, fees and certification process.
According to Director of Maritime Affairs Christopher Alexander, the Saint Lucia Air and Sea Ports Authority (SLASPA) issues boatmaster and operator licences in three grades, depending on the waters in which the vessel will operate.
A Grade 1 licence, for exposed or offshore waters, costs EC$510 and is valid for three years. It covers commercial or passenger vessels operating on routes such as Saint Lucia-Martinique or Saint Lucia-St Vincent.
A Grade 2 licence, for coastal waters, costs EC$410 and is valid for three years. This applies to vessels operating along the coast, including routes between Gros Islet, Marigot and Soufrière.
 A Grade 3 licence, for protected waters, costs EC$310 and is valid for three years. It covers operations in sheltered or recreational waters, including the use of jet skis and small pleasure vessels.
What are the requirements?
Applicants seeking a boatmaster or operator’s licence must submit a completed application form to the Director of Maritime Affairs, along with a valid medical certificate, a police record and evidence of first-aid training and/or previous maritime experience or seafarer qualifications.
They must also answer 25 mandatory questions, complete practical manoeuvring tests and bring the vessel in for inspection.
Crew members must follow a separate certification process. Prospective crew members must first undergo training through the Maritime Police or a recognised institution. Once they complete the training, they receive a certificate which must be authenticated by the Maritime Affairs Division.
Applicants must then answer 25 mandatory questions and complete an on-the-water assessment, moving at 5 knots (a slow-to-moderate speed for a boat), before they can get a crew licence.
The crew licence costs EC$210 and is valid for three years.
Vessel registration is separate
SLASPA and the Saint Lucia Ship Registry determine registration and related fees based on factors including the type of craft, its size, tonnage and intended use.
Documents required for registration include a completed application, proof of ownership such as a bill of sale or builder’s certificate, and identification for individual owners or company documents where the vessel is owned by a company.
Where a vessel is being transferred from another registry, a deletion certificate or consent to transfer is required. Applicants must also provide a tonnage certificate and the vessel’s current class and statutory certificates.
Fishing vessel licences are handled separately by the Department of Fisheries under the Fisheries Act. The fee for a fishing boat licence is EC$5.
Safety rules and operating requirements
In addition to licensing and registration, commercial boat operators must follow safety requirements for passenger excursions and local boat rides.
Guidelines issued by the Maritime Affairs Division cover several areas, including notifying lighthouses before departure, briefing passengers on safety procedures and providing life-saving equipment.Â
These issues also arose during the Commission of Inquiry.
Life jackets and safety briefings
The guidelines require life jackets to be fitted with lights and whistles to help locate and recover people in the water during an emergency. Where lights are unavailable, reflective tape may be used temporarily.
At least one life ring must also have a light attached to the end of its 60-foot throw line. Depending on the number of passengers, an additional line may be required.
Before departure, captains must brief passengers on safety procedures and demonstrate how to put on a life jacket.Â
They must also show passengers where the life jackets are kept and ensure they are clearly marked and easily accessible.
Vessels must have sufficient crew
The guidelines require vessel masters to ensure there are enough crew members to carry out duties such as keeping watch. The number required should take into account the time and area of operation, activities on board and the vessel’s design.
Section 119 of the Shipping Act, Cap. 13.27, also addresses vessels operating with insufficient crew.Â
Under the provision, an undermanned vessel may be detained, while its owner or master may face a fine of up to EC$5 000 on summary conviction.
Lighthouses must be notified
Before departing for sunset or evening excursions and daytime local boat rides, vessels must notify the lighthouse of the number of passengers and crew on board and their estimated return time.
The master is responsible for ensuring that these numbers are accurate. A headcount must also be conducted before departure and upon return.
If a vessel is delayed, the master should inform the lighthouse keeper, who can alert the relevant authorities, including the Police Marine Unit where necessary.
Operators must also obtain SLASPA authorisation before conducting sunset and evening excursions and comply with the conditions attached to that approval.
Security on local rides
It is also recommended that vessel management or the master arrange for at least two private security guards or police officers to be on board local rides before departure, as an additional safety measure.
Inquiry exposes safety concerns
The licensing requirements have taken on added significance following testimony before the Commission of Inquiry investigating the July 18 collision, which killed four people and injured several others.
On the first day of public hearings, Cazorla Jr. captain Tyson Hippolyte admitted that he had operated the vessel despite knowing that his boatmaster’s licence had expired.
Hippolyte told the Commission that he did not know when he had last checked it. He was subsequently shown a copy indicating that it had expired on July 18, 2015. He also testified that he had operated Cazorla Jr about three or four times before the July 18, 2026, collision.
The vessel’s owner, Irenus Pascal, told the Commission that his regular licensed captain was unavailable on the night of the incident, so Hippolyte operated the boat.
The hearings also examined whether basic safety procedures were followed aboard both vessels. Delan Nicholas, who took over as captain of Ocean Angel during the journey, admitted that passengers had not received a safety briefing and that he had not distributed life jackets, although the vessel carried them.
He also acknowledged that he had not notified the Soufrière lighthouse of the vessel’s departure.
Pascal similarly acknowledged that no safety briefing had been conducted aboard Cazorla Jr and that the lighthouse had not been informed of the vessel’s movement.
The Commission was appointed to investigate the circumstances surrounding the collision and review Saint Lucia’s legislation governing maritime accidents. Its terms of reference include recommending measures to support the development of a modern maritime act and reviewing procedures governing maritime activity, safety and investigations.
