The Maritime Authority of the Cayman Islands (MACI) said that 2008 has seen a major global expansion effort on the part of the Cayman Islands Shipping Registry (CISR), a division of MACI.
According to the parent organisation, CISR is the world’s leader in the registration of mega-yachts, but as a Red Ensign Register, under the United Kingdom, the CISR is able to “flag” vessels of all types and sizes, from private yachts to super-tankers, bulk carriers and even submarines. Established in 1903, the Cayman Islands Shipping Registry today has nearly 2,000 vessels (including over 250 “new builds”) on its historic Register.
Expansion during the past six months has been significant to the CISR, explained MACI CEO Joel Walton, “in order to strategically place ourselves for the convenience of our clients,” he said. “We opened our first Mediterranean office, in the port city of Cannes, France. This addition to the CISR global network has been very welcomed.”
In other advancements, the CISR now broadly covers Asia, where for the last several years it has been represented by Yoshinori Uno, who is based in Tokyo. Two new representatives have come on board in recent months: Evelyn Soon in Singapore, and Martin Chu in Hong Kong. These additions bring to nine the total number of offices/representatives available to CISR’s worldwide clientele to service their needs on a 24/7 basis.
The Registry also has a cadre of marine surveyors/inspectors who travel constantly to the globe’s shipbuilding and marina facilities, and MACI Consulting experts are also constantly on the go.
As an example of CISR’s readiness at all times, the recent threat of Hurricane Gustav in the Caribbean Sea forced the closure of the George Town, Grand Cayman, headquarters of the Maritime Authority of the Cayman Islands, but the organisation assured its clients worldwide that their needs would nonetheless be met, as the CISR global network of offices/representatives in eight other locations around the world would carry on “business as usual”.
CISR’s European Regional Office is located in Southampton, UK, and a representative is located in London, as well. On the European Continent there is the Mediterranean office in Cannes in France and representation in Athens in Greece. There are three CISR Asian representatives in Tokyo, Hong Kong and Singapore, and the United States office in Fort Lauderdale.
Additionally, all CISR offices/representatives are connected via Internet telephony and BlackBerry connectivity.