THE CARIBBEAN PORT AND LOGISTICS SPOTLIGHT

Shining a light on the need for regional integration and improved performance management across the island nations of the Caribbean

The idyllic azure waters of the Caribbean have long seduced seafarers and wanderers alike. Although the island-strewn region continues to be a magnet for the recreational boating industry, the maritime and ports logistics structure connecting both the islands, and the wider Caribbean with the rest of the world, is in dire need of development.

The importance of upgrading infrastructure and streamlining operations cannot be underplayed in a region that is practically entirely reliant on imports. The Caribbean’s geography encompasses 13 sovereign island states and 12 (British, French and Dutch) overseas dependencies with different tariffs, creating a complicated and costly landscape for transporting cargo. In addition to diverse tariffs, each island adheres to varying maritime, customs and port policies that have given rise to the need for standardization and the implementation of uniform rates.

With infrastructure mostly dating from the 1960s, ports across the Caribbean are generally considered inefficient and lagging behind in the context of global development where such entities are now defined by advanced industry trends including digitalization and the implementation of smart ports. The region’s economic potential and growth opportunities are rich and varied, however, the Caribbean is still overcoming the devastating impact of the COVID19 pandemic, and the aftermath of natural disasters to which the islands are prone. If the Caribbean is to rise in competitiveness and relevance on the global maritime stage, progress relies on two major areas: unlocking true regional integration, followed by the advancement of port management and performance improvement, both tenets upon which the Association was founded.