Ports of registry

Cabinet members agreed to designate North Sound, Virgin Gorda and White Bay, Jost Van Dyke as “ports of registry,” according to a notice Gazetted last Thursday.

The designation, which was made under the Merchant Shipping Act, 2001, means that Virgin Islands-registered ships can be deemed to belong to those ports.

Regatta certification

The Moorings has pledged that its upcoming Interline Regatta will comply with environmental standards set by an international non-profit organisation, the company announced. The regatta, which is in its 31st year, aims to achieve bronze level certification under Sailors for the Sea’s Clean Regattas programme, according to a press release from The Moorings. Sailors for the Sea provides third-party certification for regatta operators who pledge to meet a series of measures, including using online booking rather than a paper-based system; reusing bow numbers; electronically displaying race results; and recycling glass.

Singapore office

The law firm Maples and Calder will open a new office in Singapore to advise clients there on Virgin Islands and Cayman Islands law, the firm announced. The Cayman-based firm has offices in the VI, Dubai, Dublin, London and Hong Kong. The Singapore office will be managed by two of the firm’s partners — Nick Harrold and James Burch — as well as Tom Katsaros, a private equity and corporate lawyer, according to a press release from the firm.