Maritime Revenue Unit Act, 2025 (No. 57 of 2025)

NASSAU 1st July, 2025 (B) EXTRAORDINARY OFFICIAL GAZETTE THE BAHAMAS PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY MARITIME REVENUE UNIT ACT, 2025 Arrangement of Sections Section 1. Short title and commencement.............................................................................2 2. Interpretation........................................................................................................2 3. Objectives............................................................................................................2 4. Establishment of the Maritime Revenue Unit.......................................................3 5. Duties and powers of the Unit..............................................................................3 6. Staff of the Unit....................................................................................................3 7. Director of the Unit..............................................................................................4 8. Directions.............................................................................................................4 9. Reports.................................................................................................................4 MARITIME REVENUE UNIT ACT, 2025 c MARITIME REVENUE UNIT ACT, 2025 AN ACT TO ESTABLISH A MARITIME REVENUE UNIT TO PROVIDE FOR THE COLLECTION OF FEES AND REVENUE; TO ENHANCE MULTIDISCIPLINARY COORDINATION; AND FOR CONNECTED PURPOSES Enacted by the Parliament of The Bahamas 1. Short title and commencement. (1) This Act may be cited as the Maritime Revenue Unit Act, 2025. (2) This Act shall come into operation on the 1st day of July, 2025. 2. Interpretation. In this Act, “Minister” means the Minister of Finance. 3. Objectives. The objectives of this Act are — (a) to develop a multidisciplinary task force to manage the maritime activities in The Bahamas; and (b) to increase efficiency by combining certain tasks of the Ministry of Finance, law enforcement, and the Port to be carried out by the Maritime Revenue Unit. Page - 2 No. 57 of 2025 [Date of Assent 27th June, 2025] Enacted by the Parliament of The Bahamas MARITIME REVENUE UNIT ACT, 2025 4. Establishment of the Maritime Revenue Unit. (1) There shall be established a Maritime Revenue Unit (hereinafter referred to as “the Unit”). (2) The Unit shall be headed by a Director appointed by the Minister. 5. Duties and powers of the Unit. (1) The duties of the Unit are to — (a) coordinate with the Royal Bahamas Defence Force and other relevant agencies during emergencies; (b) implement regular training programs for its staff to enhance efficiency and professionalism. (c) collect spot fines and penalties on behalf of the Port Authority and the Department of Environmental Health Services; (d) other revenue agency duties associated with maritime affairs. (2) The Unit shall have the power to — (a) provide mooring services for a fee; (b) remove waste from vessels for a fee; (c) charge any person on a vessel who is in violation of any law including fisheries law; (d) install moorings; (e) set fee structure; (f) safety inspections of moorings. 6. Staff of the Unit. (1) The Unit shall be staffed by a Director and a number of officers as are necessary to carry out the mandate of the Unit. (2) The staff of the Unit shall include officers from — (a) the Royal Bahamas Police Force; (b) the Royal Bahamas Defence Force; (c) the Customs Department; (d) the Ministry of Finance; (e) the Port Department; (f) the Department of Immigration; (g) the Department of Marine Resources; (h) the Department of Environmental Health; (i) maritime technical officers. Page - 3 MARITIME REVENUE UNIT ACT, 2025 (3) Notwithstanding any other law, an officer of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force, whilst he is assigned to the Unit, retains all of his powers bestowed upon him as a result of being an officer of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force including powers of arrest. (4) The Minister may, on the advice of the Director, appoint consultants as may be necessary to assist the efforts of the Unit. 7. Director of the Unit. The Director shall — (a) be a senior Royal Bahamas Defence Force officer of the rank of Commander or higher; (b) be responsible for the day to day administration of the affairs of the Unit; (c) report to the Financial Secretary; and (d) provide technical guidance on matters of maritime revenue policies to the Minister. 8. Directions. The Minister after consultation with the Minister of National Security, and Minister responsible for Maritime Affairs, may give directions to the Director in writing as to policies to be implemented. 9. Reports. (1) The Director shall prepare an annual report on the work of the Unit. (2) The report shall be submitted to the Minister no later than three months after the end of the financial year and the Minister shall share the report with the Minister of National Security and Minister responsible for Maritime Affairs. (3) The Minister shall table the report in the House of Assembly no later than six months after the end of the financial year. Page - 4