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this Section:
- ISLE
OF MAN OFFSHORE BUSINESS SECTORS
- ISLE OF MAN COMMERCIAL
TRADING COMPANIES
- ISLE OF MAN INVESTMENT
AND FUND MANAGEMENT
- ISLE OF MAN BANKING
- ISLE OF MAN TRUST
MANAGEMENT
- ISLE OF MAN INSURANCE
Isle
of Man Ship Management & Maritime Operations
The
Isle of Man passed the Merchant Shipping (Registration)
Act 1984 in order to encourage registration
of ships on the island. There is a zero-tax
regime for ship management companies based on
the Isle of Man
In
2006, the Manx government announced a change
of the name of the Marine Administration to
the 'Isle of Man Ship Registry' which will enable
it to communicate greater "clarity of message"
by describing exactly what the organisation
does: the registration of ships and yachts and
the technical regulation of, and jurisdiction
over, those vessels on the register. The revamp
came into effect February 1, 2007.
There
are a number of ship management operations on
the island, and 297 ships (1000 GRT and over)
are registered on the island, particularly from
the UK.
In
August, 2006,
the Isle of Man reached the White List of the
Paris MOU.
According
to the Paris MoU, the recent trend has seen
the number of flags placed on the White List
growing, while the number of flags on the Grey
and Black lists is shrinking, indicating a movement
towards quality flags. Annually over 18,000
inspections take place on board foreign ships
in the Paris MOU ports, ensuring that these
ships meet international safety, security and
environmental standards, and that crew members
have adequate living and working conditions.
The
Isle of Man has the best shipping registry in
the world in terms of safety, environmental
and social factors, according to the Round Table
of international shipping associations, which
published its annual Flag State Performance
Table in December, 2006.
In
2006, the
government announced the introduction of an
Aircraft Register, after consultation between
the Government, the private sector on the Island
and the UK.
Brian
Johnson was appointed Director of Civil Aviation.
He
has worked for more than 10 years in the flight
operations inspectorate of the UK Civil Aviation
Authority. Latterly he was Head Flight Operations
Inspectorate - Aeroplanes, based at Gatwick,
and also acted as the UK Safety Assessment Coordinator
- Foreign Aircraft Programme, for the UK Department
for Transport.
Commenting on the new initiative and Mr Johnson's
appointment, Alex Downie, Minister for Trade
& Industry, said:
"I am delighted that Brian has agreed to become
the Isle of Man's first Director of Civil Aviation.
His knowledge and experience will be invaluable
to the Department as we progress negotiations
with the UK authorities for a civil aircraft
register. We have already achieved agreement
to the principle of an aircraft register and
Brian will lead detailed negotiations in respect
of the supporting legal and technical framework.
"Government
is fully committed to the establishment of an
aircraft register and I believe that it has
very significant potential as a further element
of economic diversification. The Isle of Man
already has a very successful ship register
that is independently recognised as among the
best in the world and we will aim for similar
quality for our aircraft register. We also have
a strong cluster of aircraft manufacturing and
design, plus some niche aviation businesses.
I am confident that by establishing an aircraft
register we can further raise the Isle of Man's
profile as a leading jurisdiction for aviation
business and encourage further growth, bringing
with it increased wealth and new jobs."
Regarding his appointment Mr Johnson said: "I
feel very privileged to have this opportunity
to help establish a Civil Aircraft Register
in the Isle of Man and I look forward to us
developing a Register, which is internationally
respected for quality and service."
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