Jamaica signs agreement on new transshipment port

   The Government of Jamaica said it has signed a “framework agreement” with China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) for the development of a transshipment hub in the Portland Bight, according to the government’s Jamaica Information Service.
   The service said the proposed transshipment hub, which is part of the Logistics Hub Initiative, is expected to create 2,000 jobs during the construction phase, and 10,000 jobs when the project is fully implemented.
   Construction of a hub near Goat Islands has been strongly opposed by environmental groups.
   Omar Davies, Jamaica’s minister of transport, works and housing, said a project that does not harm the environment, and will improve people’s living standards, must be explored.
   “After all the required studies are carried out, including the environmental assessment, this project will be going ahead,” he said. “If we can find a project which provides productive employment for our citizens … and at the same time restricts any damage, then we have a win-win situation.”
   According to a report posted at the Delft University of Technology, CHEC is interested in building a $1.5 billion transshipment port in the Caribbean to capitalize on expansion of the Panama Canal. The report explored various alternative locations in Jamaica.
   “Jamaica is an interesting location to realize this port, because of its ideal central position in the Caribbean and its location lies in the doorway of the Panama Canal,” said a summary of the report on the TU Delft website.
   “As the new port of Jamaica doesn’t have a large hinterland and focuses mainly on transshipment, shipping companies are not bounded to Jamaica and can switch easily to other ports. The most competitive ports are Mariel (Cuba) and Freeport (the Bahamas).”