Prime Minister Gaston Browne will deliver the opening address at the Second Annual Global Maritime Security and Sanctions Enforcement Symposium on Monday, July 13, at the St. James's Club. The three-day event brings together international maritime leaders, government officials and industry experts to strengthen global cooperation against illicit maritime activities and improve sanctions enforcement.
The Symposium is jointly hosted by the Antigua and Barbuda Department of Marine Services and Merchant Shipping (ADOMS) and the United States Department of State, with support from Sandia National Laboratories. Approximately 100 participants from around the world are expected to attend, including representatives from ship registries, the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the Registry Information Sharing Compact (RISC), the Global Centre for Maritime Sanctions Monitoring (GCMSM), the Maritime UN Sanctions Enforcement (MUSE) initiative and other international maritime organizations and enforcement agencies.
In his capacity as Minister responsible for Merchant Shipping and Ports, Prime Minister Browne will reaffirm Antigua and Barbuda's commitment to maintaining one of the world's most respected and compliant ship registries. He is expected to stress that effective flag State compliance, robust due diligence and transparent regulatory systems are essential to protecting international commerce from sanctions evasion, fraudulent vessel registrations and other illicit maritime activities.
The Prime Minister will commend ADOMS for developing a comprehensive compliance framework that has significantly strengthened the integrity of Antigua and Barbuda's registry and reduced its exposure to regulatory risk. He will tell delegates that although Antigua and Barbuda is a small island developing state, size is no barrier to leadership on matters of global importance.
Browne is expected to highlight the country's growing role in shaping international maritime policy through strategic partnerships with the United States and other global stakeholders. He will also welcome the IMO's recently adopted guidelines addressing fraudulent ship registration and fraudulent registries, describing them as an important milestone in closing regulatory gaps and strengthening international standards across the shipping industry.
The Prime Minister will draw attention to the increasingly sophisticated threats facing the maritime industry, including sanctions evasion, the proliferation of so-called "shadow fleets," fraudulent registrations and deceptive shipping practices that undermine global security and fair competition. He will encourage participants to use the Symposium to strengthen collaboration, exchange intelligence and develop practical solutions that reinforce transparency and accountability throughout the sector.
Browne will further reaffirm Antigua and Barbuda's commitment to multilateral cooperation, citing the country's role as a founding member of the GCMSM and its strong support for the Registry Information Sharing Compact. He is expected to stress that international cooperation and information sharing remain among the most effective tools available to combat bad actors operating within the global shipping industry.
The Symposium will feature technical presentations and collaborative workshops on emerging maritime security threats, including Automatic Identification System (AIS) spoofing, enhanced due diligence procedures for vessel registration, sanctions compliance, intelligence sharing and best practices for strengthening flag State oversight.
The Government of Antigua and Barbuda welcomes delegates from across the international maritime community and reaffirms its commitment to working with global partners to advance maritime safety, strengthen sanctions enforcement, promote transparency and uphold the highest standards of compliance within the international shipping industry.
