Ongoing expansion of the main port is crucial to Barbados’ goal to become a regional trade and tourism hub

The Port of Bridgetown has long played an integral part of Barbados’ tourism industry by welcoming large international cruise ships originating from North America and Europe.

The port receives 800,000 cruise visitors annually and as a vital tourism segment, the plan is to increase that figure to 2 million by 2030. “Hitting this target will require a port that can accommodate the largest cruise ships being built in the world today,” says David Jean-Marie, CEO of Barbados Port Inc. (BPI). Meanwhile, the construction of port facilities at the north of the island for super yachts and smaller cruise ships will also accommodate growing arrivals.

In line with plans to turn Barbados into a regional trade hub, BPI also aims to increase cargo capacity at the port, which currently handles 1.3 million tons of cargo annually. Ongoing investment in new equipment, staff training and technology form part of this strategy: a third gantry crane went on line last year, while the government has recently invested $15 million to upgrade the port’s security systems.

“Now we can discharge vessels in line with international standards and we’ve seen nearly 100% efficiency improvements,” adds Mr. Jean-Marie. “One of our strategic goals is to become the leading transshipment hub of the southern Caribbean and the right equipment is essential to meet that goal.”