MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Red Ensign Group Conference in Bermuda

A shipping conference for United Kingdom Overseas Territories and crown dependencies has been taking place at Bermuda.

Bermuda Government Senator Walter Roban gave the opening address at the Red Ensign Group (REG) Conference.

Countries represented at the conference include Caymans, Gibraltar, Isle of Man, the United Kingdom, Anguilla, the Falkland Islands, Guernsey and Turks and Caicos.

The conference provides a forum for "delegates to discuss policies and technical issues relating to current international rule making, maritime legislation, marine safety, pollution prevention, and the welfare of seafarers both for ships registered under the Red Ensign flags and for ships under other flags that visit the ports of members," according to a press statement.

It said the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) has delegated authority from the UK Secretary of State for Transport to ensure that the REG registers maintain the highest international maritime standards in accordance with their obligations under the Conventions and in accordance with U.K. policy.

The MCA fulfils this role through routine monitoring visits to each REG Register.

As part of this role, the MCA organizes an annual conference of all the REG Registers and represents the interests of international organizations such as the International Labour Organisation.