The Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) is located to the South eastern side of the Bahamas chain and lie 90 miles north of Haiti and the Dominican Republic and 575 miles south-east of Miami. The territory comprises some 40 islands and cays split into two groups by a deep-water channel, with a total land area of 193 square miles. Only six of the islands are permanently inhabited: Grand Turk; Salt Cay; South Caicos; Middle Caicos; North Caicos and Providenciales.

The Turks & Caicos Islands is a member of the British Red Ensign Group, and operates a category two registry, that operates commercial vessels of 150 gross tons (GT) and pleasure vessels of 400 gross tons (GT).