Jamaica closer to logistics target

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Jamaica’s thrust towards becoming a global logistics hub received a major boost with the launch of a multibillion-dollar shipyard on Monday, January 23.

The project, which is being spearheaded by German Ship Repair Jamaica (GSRJ) on the Sir Florizel Glasspole section of the Kingston Harbour, signals a US$37-million (J$6-billion) injection towards improving the island’s competitiveness in the maritime sector.


The first phase of the shipyard, a place where ships are built or repaired, will be a floating dry dock with steel fabrication and engine workshops that is scheduled for completion by November of this year.

https://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/...gistics-target

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KWL builds capacity to strengthen competitiveness

Kingston Wharves Limited (KWL), following the build-out of its terminal and logistic infrastructure accompanied by the use of technology, said that it is working to strengthen its competitiveness while positioning its port operation as a key gateway in the Caribbean.

Reporting increased revenues of $9.5 billion at the end of its 2022 financial year — 9 per cent above the prior year — the company said it continues to make capital investments in an effort to improve the functionality of its logistics space and to drive the efficiency of services, this even after incurring major FX losses due to an appreciation of the Jamaican dollar in 2022.

"We continue to develop our infrastructure and digital architecture through a structured programme of berth redevelopment and off dock warehouse construction aimed at relocating cargo storage facilities [and in turn increasing the available yard space on our terminal].

"The berth 7 redevelopment project is progressing well, and destined to deliver modernised berthing capacity, efficiency, and enhanced experience to shipping lines that call our terminal. Specifically, the project will see the expansion of the main berthing area to simultaneously service two post panamax vessels," Chairman Jeffery Hall said in the company's annual report to shareholders.

Having invested over US$60 million to undertake berth redevelopment activities and to expand its warehousing space, the port operator is pushing to make its operations more nimble as it looks to take advantage of the growth in nearshoring opportunities.

https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/busi...mpetitiveness/

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Jamaica must become ‘logistics hub of the region’

Developing Jamaica into a more robust global logistics centre, that connects the Americas to the rest of the world, has been outlined as a key aim of the Andrew Holness administration.

The Government’s intention to promote economic expansion at the Port of Kingston, the seventh-largest natural harbour in the world, was made clear by Senator Aubyn Hill, minister of industry, investment, and commerce, during a press briefing held yesterday at the corporate office of Kingston Wharves Limited.

It was also disclosed that the Kingston Freeport Terminal Limited would be expanding its infrastructure and supporting equipment to increase its current capacity by 30 per cent.

“The European Union understands that we want to become the logistics hub. We speak English, we’re closer to the Panama Canal, we ship to Europe, and we have people who can be trained. So, that’s the bigger picture,” Hill said.

Hill: Jamaica must become ‘logistics hub of the region’ | Lead Stories | Jamaica Gleaner (jamaica-gleaner.com)

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BATTLE FOR THE SEAS

Petrojam, WIP vie for control of Jamaica’s bunkering market

PETROJAM Limited, Jamaica’s State-owned oil refinery, announced plans Wednesday to re-enter the marine fuel market directly challenging private competitor West Indies Petroleum (WIP) amid a shifting energy landscape.

The refinery’s push to become a “global bunkering hub” comes just over a decade after Petrojam exited the marine bunkering business in favour of selling fuel to other suppliers who operate in that space, especially around the Kingston Harbour. Petrojam exited the marine bunkering business in 2013, and instead had been focusing on selling marine fuel from its road tanker wagons (RTWs) — the trucks which haul fuel across the island– to ports in Montego Bay, St Ann and Portland. It however said it is seeing opportunities to re-enter the market to sell marine fuel to vessels on the high seas in Jamaica’s Outer Port Limits (OPL), mainly ships traversing the Panama Canal corridor without scheduled stops, and has started conversations with cruise liners to take the fuel.

https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/2025...-for-the-seas/

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Kingston Wharves targets LAC top spot in vehicle transshipment

[B]KINGSTON Wharves Limited (KWL) has set its sights on dominating Latin America and the Caribbean as the region’s largest vehicle trans-shipment hub, unveiling an audacious plan to triple annual capacity to 500,000 cars by 2030 — a vision bolstered by the arrival of the groundbreaking Hoegh Aurora, the world’s largest eco-friendly car carrier, at its newly expanded Berth 7.

The port operator, already handling over 170,000 vehicles annually, is leveraging a US$100-million infrastructure overhaul — plus a planned US$15-million multi-level car park and cutting-edge berth upgrades — to position itself as the linchpin of global auto logistics, capitalising on strategic shipping lanes connecting Asia, the Americas, and Oceania while promising transformative job growth for Jamaica’s economy.

Mark Williams, chief executive officer of Kingston Wharves Limited, outlined the vision in an interview with Jamaica Observer.

“So far we move just over 170,000 [vehicles annually]…and we believe, based on the investment that we’ve made and some strategic plans that we have, [that] it’s reasonable for Kingston Wharves to establish itself as one of the premier global auto logistics centre, and for that, our vision is that we can move half a million cars per year through Kingston,” Williams said.

He pointed out that the benefits will also redound to jobs being created in logistics, mechanics, and port operations.

“I’m just excited, you know, as I said, this is more than for Kingston Wharves, because when you have a vessel that has a capacity of 9,100 cars, you just think of a number of jobs for people to drive the cars, for people to supervise, for mechanics, etc, so the knock-on effect for a country like Jamaica is just tremendous and prominent opportunities.”


https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/2025...transshipment/