SLASPA Maritime Affairs
The Division of Maritime Affairs of the Saint Lucia Air and Sea Ports Authority
SLASPA Maritime Affairs is the Division of Maritime Affairs of the Saint Lucia Air and Sea Ports Authority. It is the maritime administration of Saint Lucia and is responsible for ship registration, flag and port state control, and the certification of seafarers.
What SLASPA is
The Saint Lucia Air and Sea Ports Authority (SLASPA) is a statutory body established under the Saint Lucia Air and Sea Ports Authority Act No. 10 of 1983. It is responsible for the main ports of entry to the island, including Port Castries and Port Vieux Fort, and for Hewanorra International Airport and George F. L. Charles Airport. Alongside its port and airport operations, SLASPA supports and administers the Division of Maritime Affairs.
The role of the Division of Maritime Affairs
The Division of Maritime Affairs was established in 2000, following amendments to the SLASPA Act and the Shipping Act No. 11 of 1994. Its task is to see that maritime activity in Saint Lucia, and on ships flying the Saint Lucia flag, is carried out in line with national law and with international standards for maritime safety and the prevention of pollution.
The Division acts for Saint Lucia in three capacities. As a flag state it is responsible for ships on the Saint Lucia register wherever they trade. As a port state it inspects foreign ships calling at Saint Lucian ports. As a coastal state it deals with safety and pollution matters in Saint Lucian waters.
Functions of SLASPA Maritime Affairs
- Ship registration: registering ships under the Saint Lucia flag and keeping the national register, including mortgages and changes of ownership. See vessel registration.
- Survey and certification of ships: statutory surveys and the issue of the certificates required by the conventions that Saint Lucia applies.
- Flag state control: inspecting Saint Lucia registered ships to confirm that they continue to meet those standards.
- Port state control: inspecting foreign ships in Saint Lucian ports.
- Seafarer certification: the examination, certification and endorsement of seafarers under the STCW Convention. See seafarer services.
- Marine notices: publishing notices for shipowners, masters and seafarers. See marine notices.
- Casualty investigation: investigating shipping casualties.
- Search and rescue: coordinating maritime search and rescue.
- Training: supporting the development of the maritime sector through training.
International conventions
Saint Lucia is a member State of the International Maritime Organization (IMO). The Division applies the international conventions that Saint Lucia has adopted, among them SOLAS for the safety of life at sea, MARPOL for the prevention of pollution from ships, STCW for the training and certification of seafarers, the Load Lines Convention and the Tonnage Measurement Convention. Ships on the Saint Lucia register are surveyed and certified against these instruments.
How this website relates to SLASPA Maritime Affairs
This website is the Saint Lucia Ship Registry. It covers ship registration and seafarer documentation under the Saint Lucia flag. Owners can start a vessel registration enquiry here, and seafarers can request certificates, endorsements and other documents through seafarer services. Port operations, airport services and the corporate information of SLASPA are not covered on this website.
Office and contacts
Saint Lucia Ship Registry
P.O. Box 651, Manoel Street, Castries, Saint Lucia
Telephone: (758) 457-6163
Email: registry@slaspa.org
Office hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM (AST). Closed on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.