After an investigation by The Superyacht Group into the issuing of fraudulent COCs by the Montserrat Yachting Association (MYA), the Red Ensign Group (REG) has issued an official statement. The REG has also published a letter to the IMO further clarifying the situation, which will be circulated to all IMO members in the coming days. 

Rumours of fraudulent tickets from MYA have persisted and were further brought to the attention of The Superyacht Group in June 2022 via an anonymous source. Correspondences were seen by us between the source, pretending to be a yacht officer, and the MYA suggesting that it would be willing to accept cash payments in exchange for upgrading tickets to Yacht Master Ocean COCs. As the MYA is not authorised or recognised by the British Shipping Registry, these tickets are not valid. A spokesperson for the Red Ensign Group said:

“The Montserrat Yachting Association is not recognised or authorised by the British Shipping registry and maritime administration of Montserrat in any capacity whether as a registry agent, a trainer of seafarers or to issue vessel or seafarer certification on behalf of the administration.  Furthermore, Montserrat Yachting Association has no connection or recognition either from the wider Red Ensign Group of British shipping registries and maritime administrations.”

“Seafarer certificates issued in respect of the STCW Convention may only be issued by Contracting governments.  The UK and the Montserrat maritime administration can confirm that the STCW Convention has not been extended to Montserrat.  Accordingly, any Convention certificate issued by the Montserrat Yachting Association that, through the inclusion of the Red Ensign logo or wording referring to the British Overseas Territory of Montserrat, may pertain to be or otherwise be inferred to be, a British or Montserrat certificate cannot be considered as valid”

Outlined below are excerpts from a letter from the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to the IMO Secretary-General, the full letter will be circulated to all IMO members in the coming days. 

“I would like to take this opportunity to bring to the attention of the IMO that the Montserrat Yachting Association (MYA) has no connection with the Montserrat Maritime Administration (as…