Guyana accelerates maritime sector transformation under Budget 2026
Guyana is advancing a broad transformation of its maritime sector under the country’s 2026 national budget, combining regulatory reform, institutional strengthening and investments in navigational safety as vessel traffic continues to expand. Speaking during parliamentary discussions on the budget, Thandi McAlister, Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Public Utilities and Aviation and Member of Parliament, […]
Princess Cruises adds Barbados homeport as Caribbean cruise demand grows
Princess Cruises is expanding its Southern Caribbean cruise programme for the 2027 and 2028 seasons with the addition of Barbados as a new homeport, marking the cruise line’s first roundtrip programme from the island since 2010. The expansion introduces more than 30 voyages across 15 destinations and gives travellers the option to sail either roundtrip […]
Are Caribbean cruise taxes leaving money on the table?
As Caribbean destinations debate increasing cruise passenger taxes to fund infrastructure and public services, some industry leaders are warning that focusing too heavily on fees may cause ports to overlook larger economic opportunities. Speaking during the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association’s Leadership Series, Alexander Gumbs, CEO of the Port St. Maarten Group, argued that cruise tourism is […]
Panama Canal revenues rise as maritime traffic rebounds in early 2026
The Panama Canal is reporting stronger-than-expected operational activity at the start of fiscal year 2026, signaling renewed momentum for one of the world’s most critical maritime trade corridors. Speaking during the CMA Shipping Conference and Expo 2026, Panama Canal Administrator Dr. Ricaurte Vásquez Morales revealed that canal revenues during the first five months of fiscal […]
Freeport’s Legal Turning Point: Arbitration Ruling Clears $357M Claim Against GBPA
A major arbitration ruling has dismissed a $357 million reimbursement claim brought by the Government of The Bahamas against the Grand Bahama Port Authority (GBPA), marking a significant legal development for the governance of Freeport and its economic future. The decision, issued by an arbitration tribunal under the framework of the Hawksbill Creek Agreement, rejects […]
The $40B cruise boom: why the Caribbean will be at the center of the next tourism expansion
The global cruise industry is entering one of the most significant expansion cycles in its history. According to a March 2026 analysis by Hope Research Group, cruise operators have 58 new ships on order representing more than $40 billion in capital investment, with industry capacity projected to grow at a 6.2% compound annual growth rate […]
CMA CGM doubles its services in Martinique and strengthens Caribbean maritime connectivity
With €336 million in investment, a fleet of 6,000 TEU vessels, and the doubling of shipping lines in Fort-de-France by 2027, the Marseille-based group is transforming Martinique and Guadeloupe into regional logistics hubs and sending a direct message to Latin American operators. Facing an illuminated 6,000-TEU vessel operating through the night, from the ninth floor […]
Decarbonizing Caribbean Shipping Is Becoming a Port Strategy
The global maritime industry is entering a period of profound transformation driven by the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. For decades, shipping was primarily evaluated through the lenses of efficiency, trade facilitation and logistics performance. Today, decarbonization is rapidly becoming one of the central strategic variables shaping maritime infrastructure and port operations. This shift […]
Caribbean Ports Are Entering the Climate Adaptation Era
Climate risk is rapidly becoming one of the most decisive variables shaping the future of Caribbean port infrastructure. Across the region, port authorities are increasingly confronted with a combination of rising sea levels, stronger storm systems and more frequent coastal flooding. What was once treated primarily as an environmental concern is now emerging as a […]
The Guyana–Suriname Energy Corridor Is Redrawing Caribbean Maritime Geography
The acceleration of offshore oil development in Guyana and Suriname is no longer just an energy story. It is becoming a maritime story — and potentially a structural one for the wider Caribbean basin. At the 55th Annual Conference of the CSA, cargo projections presented by Suriname port authorities revealed the scale of the shift […]
The Caribbean as America’s Maritime Frontier: Strategic Signals from the 2026 US–Caribbean Ports Forum
On February 20, 2026, the Atlantic Council’s Caribbean Initiative hosted the inaugural US–Caribbean Maritime and Ports Forum in Miami. Held at the Fountainbleu Hotel, the event formally launched what organizers described as a long-term platform aimed at strengthening cooperation between the United States and Caribbean nations across ports, shipping, and the broader maritime sector. The […]
CSA 2025 : Governance Will Define the Next Generation of Caribbean Ports
CSA 2025 : The future competitiveness of Caribbean ports will not be determined primarily by cranes, terminals or digital platforms. It will be determined by governance. At the 55th Annual Conference of the Caribbean Shipping Association (CSA), discussions on digitalization, Port Community Systems, customs modernization and supply chain efficiency repeatedly converged toward a deeper structural […]