Caribbean port strength comes with growing network exposure
The Caribbean remains one of the most strategically important container spaces in Latin America and the Caribbean. Several of the region’s largest ports sit within or around the Caribbean basin, supported by major east-west shipping routes, proximity to the Panama Canal and extensive transshipment networks. The 2024 port hierarchy illustrates that scale. Cartagena Bay handled […]
More cargo, fewer calls: Puerto Quetzal’s shifting operating profile
Puerto Quetzal entered 2025 from a stronger volume base, but the more revealing part of its recent performance lies beneath the headline growth. In 2024, total throughput reached 19.16 million metric tonnes including the San José buoys, up 8% year on year, while container traffic rose 7% to 716,640 TEU. Yet the number of vessels […]
Latin America ’s container recovery masks uneven port trajectories
Latin America and the Caribbean’s container trade has moved back above pre-pandemic levels. But the regional recovery is far from uniform. In 2024, Latin America’s containerised maritime trade reached an index of 104.6, with 2019 set at 100, according to the latest port report from the CEPAL. That places the region above its pre-pandemic baseline, […]
Stronger maritime governance could reinforce Caribbean trade and logistics
The fifth Regional Meeting of Directors and Heads of Maritime Administrations (DIHMAR5), held in Guyana in late June, delivered more than a regional policy discussion. By launching a new legal cooperation initiative and identifying common technical priorities, Caribbean maritime authorities signalled a broader effort to strengthen the institutional foundations that support trade, shipping and port […]
Cruise demand remains resilient despite geopolitical uncertainty, Carnival’s latest results suggest
Geopolitical uncertainty, elevated fuel costs and shifting travel patterns continue to shape the operating environment for global cruise operators. Yet Carnival Corporation’s latest quarterly results point to a different story beneath those headwinds. The world’s largest cruise company reported record revenues, record adjusted earnings and historically strong booking trends, suggesting that underlying demand remains resilient […]
MSC turns Caribbean culture into a competitive advantage aboard MSC World Europa
As cruise lines compete for market share in the world’s busiest cruise region, differentiation is no longer driven solely by larger ships, new attractions or expanded itineraries. Increasingly, operators are investing in experiences that connect passengers more closely with the destinations they visit. MSC Cruises’ decision to launch the third edition of Zouk@Sea by MSC […]
Martinique’s Grand Port Unveils Smart Grid to Advance Intelligent Energy Management
The Grand Port Maritime de la Martinique (GPMLM) has inaugurated a new Smart Grid, marking a significant milestone in its energy transition strategy. By combining solar power generation, battery storage and intelligent energy management, the system is designed to optimize electricity production and consumption across the port’s facilities in real time. The project brings together […]
Could Colombia ‘s new Port of Antioquia redraw cargo flows in northern South America?
As global shipping networks continue to navigate fuel volatility, congestion and mounting geopolitical disruptions, Colombia has quietly opened an infrastructure that could reshape logistics patterns in the country’s north and potentially alter cargo flows across parts of South America. Located in the Gulf of Urabá, the new Port of Antioquia has officially begun operations with […]
Caribbean countries deepen cooperation on Seafarer Training Standards
Caribbean governments are stepping up efforts to strengthen the implementation of international standards governing seafarer training and certification, recognising the importance of robust training systems and quality assurance frameworks for the region’s maritime sector. To support these efforts, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) convened a regional workshop in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, from […]
AI-Powered Startup MiBelBoat Brings Caribbean Maritime Innovation to VivaTech
Selected as a winner of France Travail’s inaugural Innov’Ultramarin Challenge, the Martinique-based startup is using artificial intelligence to build a digital platform designed to connect Caribbean nautical operators and travellers. A startup born in Martinique is taking its vision of Caribbean maritime innovation to one of Europe’s biggest technology stages. MiBelBoat, an AI-powered nautical booking […]
Caribbean ports face mounting modernization pressures as global shipping evolves
Across the Caribbean, ports are entering a decisive phase of transformation. Larger vessels, increasingly digital supply chains and intensifying competition among regional transshipment hubs are reshaping operational requirements, placing new demands on infrastructure, governance and workforce capabilities. In the issue n°57 of Caribbean Maritime, the official journal of the Caribbean Shipping Association (CSA), maritime development […]
Martinique’s cruise industry looks beyond volume and shifts to value creation
Strong passenger growth, expanding homeport operations and renewed interest from cruise lines are reinforcing Martinique’s position in the Caribbean market. The island’s next challenge now lies in generating greater economic value and strengthening its long-term competitiveness. As the Martinique Cruise Association celebrates its 30th anniversary, the island’s cruise industry is entering a new phase of […]