Lieutenant Commander Berne Wright serves as Port Controller (Acting). He is responsible for all government operated port facilities within the Commonwealth of the Bahamas. As Port Controller, he oversees the inspection and licensing of all commercial vessels less than 500 gross tons, commercial recreational watercrafts, pleasure yachts and private boats. He is the Admiralty Marshall and is responsible for aids to navigation. Additionally, his responsibilities include the regulation of all maritime matters in The Bahamas.
He attended the Britannia Royal Navy College, Darthmouth England in April 1994; completing Naval General Studies as a Midshipman the following year. In November 2005, he was awarded the designation, Certified Manager (CM), from James Madison University in Harrisburg Virginia. Lieutenant Commander Wright has undergone Graduate Studies at William Perry Center (National Defence University), attaining knowledge from courses that focused on Caribbean Defence and Security as well as Governance, Governability and Security in Latin America and the Caribbean. In addition, he also obtained certificates in Maritime Business Management from Lloyd Maritime Academy and Human Resource Management.
Born in Nassau, Bahamas; Lieutenant Commander Wright enlisted in the Royal Bahamas Defence Force in August of 1990.
Lieutenant Commander Wright has completed several global courses as well, some of which include; the international Maritime Officer’s Course, the Prospective Commanding Officers (PCO) Course, and the United States Coast Guard Search and Rescue (SAR) and Maritime Planning and Operations courses. He also completed a Special Operations, Combating Terrorism course at McDill Airforce Base and underwent Radiological Detection Training from Interpol.
His Shore Assignments include: Commanding Officer of the Port Security Unit, the International Ship and Port Facility (ISPS) Coordinator, Assistant Squadron Commanding Officer, Comptroller of Government House, Commando Squadron’s Executive Officer and Operations Officer.
Afloat; Lieutenant Commander Wright has served as Commanding Officer of HMBS Arthur Dion (A.D) Hanna, Commanding Officer of HMBS Inagua, Executive Officer of HMBS Nassau, Executive Officer of HMBS San Salvador II and Fort Fincastle, Navigating Officer onboard HMBS Samana and HMBS Yellow Elder. Finally, Lieutenant Commander Wright has an ‘A’ Class (500 gross tonnage) Captain’s License.
His awards include; a Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, National Security Commendation, two (2) letters of Commendation from Governor Generals Arthur Foulkes and A. D. Hanna. Lieutenant Commander Berne Wright is married and has one daughter.
