Caribbean Member States were updated on the latest developments at IMO, and Maritime Administrations, Regional and International stakeholders and education institutions were afforded the opportunity to exchange information, at a Regional Meeting of Directors and Heads of Maritime Administrations (DIHMAR 2), in St. John's, Antigua and Barbuda (26-27 June 2023).  

The meeting endorsed the Carib-SMART Project Document which outlines key gaps and needs identified during the project’s Preparatory phase which began last year. The Carib-SMART project aims to support small island developing states (SIDS) in the Caribbean region to build-back better from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the maritime sector.   

The preparatory phase is part of a long-term technical assistance Programme executed by IMO’s Technical Cooperation Division (TCD), with backing from IMO’s Department of Partnerships and Projects (DPP).   

An earlier feasibility study on the Development of a Regional Reception Facilities Plan for the Small Island Developing States of the Wider Caribbean Region was considered and a decision taken to establish a working group to review the document and formalize an implementation plan.  

Rules were adopted for the convening of future Regional Meetings of Directors and Heads of Maritime Administrations. 

The meeting was organised jointly by IMO and the Government of Antigua and Barbuda. IMO sponsored 15 participants. 

Participants came from the following Member States and Overseas Territories: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Curacao, Dominica, France, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, The Kingdom of the Netherlands, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Maarten, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, and Turks and Caicos Islands.  

Stakeholder organizations sending representatives to DIHMAR 2 included, among others: the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat; Commonwealth Secretariat (COMSEC); International Oil Pollution Compensation (IOPC) Funds; Maritime Technology Cooperation Centre (MTCC) Caribbean; Regional Activity Center Regional Marine Pollution Emergency; Information and Training Center (RAC/REMPEITC-Caribe); United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (UKHO;, and the World Maritime University (WMU).  

A Hydrographic Seminar, hosted by the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office, was held after DIHMAR.