There is no point in our geography that exceeds 60 kilometers from the coast, this is due to our insular condition and the long and narrow configuration of the island of Cuba. For us, the sea is a permanent presence. The waves generally caress the majority of Cuban cities that have often grown under the protection of a bay. Everything came and went from the sea for centuries.

Because of Cuba's maritime vocation and the need to incorporate more and better maritime-port activity into the country's development, it is especially significant that we commemorate today the 43rd anniversary of the Cuban Ship Registry. But little is known about the person being honored. What is, then, the Cuban Ship Registry?

Founded on January 21, 1982 as an independent organization and commercially known as RCB Sociedad Clasera. Throughout its life, it has participated in the main projects and investments in the maritime-port branch of the country with satisfactory results. The main objectives of this organization are related to the inspection and classification of ships, the homologation and approval of services, products and qualified personnel in the industrial field, the safety certification of lifting equipment, the technical inspection and safety certification of engineering works, activities that respond to the state mandate delegated to the entity.

The RCB managed to maintain the certification of the Integrated Quality Management System by the International Certification Body ICDQ, complying with the Code of Recognized Organization of Maritime Administrations.

For the urgent transformation that we need in the maritime transportation activity of passengers and cargo in the country, as well as in other specialized technical activities of other branches of transportation, the Cuban Registry of Ships has an important role to play. We congratulate them today, more than for the history that they already have, for the one that we know they will build every day to come.