As the Cayman Islands Shipping Registry celebrates its 110th anniversary, it also welcomes Saagar Kadiyala to the position of qualified marine surveyor.

Saagar Kadiyala first joined the Shipping Registry in 2009 as a trainee surveyor, and in December 2012 completed the surveyor training programme, officially becoming the first qualified Caymanian marine surveyor.

“The sea has always been a large part of my life”, said Saagar.  “I feel fortunate to be able to take my engineering degree and my love of the sea and large ships to build my career right here at home”.

Saagar has a BSc in Mechanical Engineering from Kettering University Michigan, making the Dean’s List, and with a government scholarship, attended post graduate courses in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering at the University of Michigan.

After completing his formal studies, he began a modularised training programme with the Maritime Authority of the Cayman Islands (parent organisation of the Cayman Islands Shipping Registry), which was designed to ensure competence in key survey functions, including marine engineering, nautical technology, naval architecture, and vessel surveys.  During the training, Saagar accompanied qualified surveyors on numerous surveys and inspections around the southern United States and the Caribbean.

Mr. A. Joel Walton, CEO of the Marine Authority of the Cayman Islands, congratulated Saagar on his accomplishments and his recent promotion:  “It is heart-warming to see young Caymanians fulfill their career aspirations and at the same time be of service to their country.  Saagar’s case is proof that when it comes to opportunities in the Cayman Islands, the sky is the limit”.

As a government marine surveyor, Saagar will be responsible for performing surveys on vessels seeking registration in the Cayman Islands; conducting statutory surveys on ships, yachts and other marine vessels to verify and enforce safety standards; and ensuring compliance with national and international rules and regulations.  This includes conducting Port State Control for foreign-going vessels arriving into the jurisdiction.  He will also be in contact with the Cayman Islands Shipping Registry clients, answering their questions on any technical and regulatory issues.  He would also be called upon to offer expert witness in the event of a marine accident.

The Maritime Authority of the Cayman Islands is responsible for: pleasure yacht and commercial shipping vessel registration; provision of surveys and certification to Cayman-registered vessels globally and to ‘new builds’, irrespective of flag; provision of construction supervision of new builds; ensuring crew compliance on Cayman-registered vessels; implementing marine pollution prevention; maritime safety and security; and development of national maritime policy formation.

The Maritime Authority of the Cayman Islands (MACI) is a statutory corporation formed as a separate legal entity under the Maritime Authority of the Cayman Islands Law (2005) which came into effect on July 1, 2005. The Authority is wholly-owned by the Government of the Cayman Islands but governed by a Board of Directors appointed by the Governor of the Cayman Islands.

In general, MACI functions as the maritime administration of the Cayman Islands and as such discharges, on behalf of the Cayman Islands Government, the range of responsibilities and services normally associated with such a maritime administration.