Tributes to shipping extraordinaire 'Harry' Maragh

William Brown

President – Shipping Association of Jamaica

The news of the passing of Harry Maragh is a sad way with which to start 2021, but the Shipping Association of Jamaica (SAJ) also celebrates the life of this outstanding visionary and businessman.

Harry was highly respected by colleagues in Jamaica and across the Caribbean shipping and business communities. He gave years of yeoman service as president of the SAJ, as a member of the SAJ’s Managing Committee, and as a council member of the Caribbean Shipping Association – contributing greatly to the development of the local and regional maritime sector.

Harry will be missed immensely by all those who had the pleasure of knowing him, and we extend our profound condolences at this difficult time to his family and his staff.

Charles Johnston

Immediate past president – Shipping Association of Jamaica and

Executive chairman – Jamaica Fruit & Shipping Company

Harry and I were competitors and friends. We met over 40 years ago and since then, we have worked together on many projects and policies that have contributed significantly to improvements in shipping across the Caribbean and in Jamaica. It was always a pleasure to work with Harry, as he always brought new ideas to the table. I shall miss him greatly. My deeply felt condolences go out to his wife and family.

Juan Carlos Croston,

President of the Caribbean Shipping Association

It is with great sadness that all the members of the Caribbean Shipping Association (CSA) and I received the news of the sudden passing of our dear member and friend, Harry Maragh. His support for the CSA was exemplary; he served as a CSA council member and he rarely missed any of our annual meetings, accompanied by his charming wife, Charmaine.

We will miss Harry’s wise counsel and warm smile, but we also celebrate his life of tremendous contribution to the development of regional shipping, in both the cargo and cruise sectors. I also want to note how helpful he was in encouraging and facilitating the participation of young professionals in the CSA, including his daughter, Racquel.

On behalf of the entire membership of the CSA, I offer my heartfelt condolences to the family of Harry Maragh and to all his employees and members of the Shipping Association of Jamaica. We share your grief, and will honour his legacy by continuing his work in developing an efficient, viable Caribbean and Latin American shipping industry.

Professor Gordon Shirley, OJ

President & CEO

The Port Authority of Jamaica

The management and staff of The Port Authority of Jamaica (PAJ) are deeply saddened by the passing of our colleague and industry giant Harriat ‘Harry’ Maragh. A pioneer of Jamaica’s shipping industry, Harry was a supportive partner, adviser, developer and investor whose immense contribution made an indelible mark on the development of shipping locally and regionally.

Harry contributed to the industry in a number of capacities and through an extensive network of industry businesses and related interests. He has supported the PAJ through a number of roles, chiefly as chairman and chief executive officer of his flagship business, Lannaman and Morris Shipping Limited, which as cruise terminal operator for over 40 years, handles all ship-related activities at the Ocho Rios Cruise Port under a management contract with the PAJ. Additionally, Lannaman and Morris is the shipping agent for some of the world’s major cruise lines, including Carnival Cruise, Norwegian Cruise Lines, Holland America, Costa Cruises and AIDA Cruises, all of which frequently call at our cruise ports in Jamaica. He also served the organisation as a member of PAJ’s board of directors and as a member of PAJ’s subsidiary Port Management Security Limited’s board.

Harry was a visionary, shipping industry stalwart, trailblazer and astute businessman. He was naturally inclined to serve, had a keen eye for opportunities, and often leveraged challenges to create advantages and solutions. In light of his tremendous achievements, a notable hallmark of his leadership was his humility, which underpinned his inclusive style of leadership. His passing will undoubtedly leave a noticeable void and he will be greatly missed. Nonetheless, we are heartened to have known him, benefited and made greater through his guidance, tutelage and mentorship.

Rear Admiral (Ret’d) Peter Brady

Director General – Maritime Authority of Jamaica

The Maritime Authority of Jamaica is saddened to hear of the untimely passing of our beloved colleague Harry Maragh.

His death is a deeply felt loss for the entire shipping industry in Jamaica.

We had the honour of working with Mr Maragh on countless occasions, notably when he provided key support for the inaugural IBIA Bunker Conference in 2018.

Under his esteemed direction, Lannaman & Morris Shipping Limited, one of Jamaica’s leading shipping agents, became deeply woven into the fabric of the nation’s economy.

Harry has demonstrated consistent support for women in the industry, contributing to professional development and advancement opportunities. He has been a proud supporter of the Jamaican chapter of Women in Maritime Association, Caribbean.

Despite his many achievements, Harry never lost the common touch. He had a humility of spirit that endeared him to all.

Our sincerest condolences go out to Harry’s family, and to the Lannaman & Morris Shipping family.

The JMEA pays tribute to Mr Harry Maragh

The Jamaica Manufacturers and Exporters Association (JMEA) has received with profound sadness the news of the passing of Mr Harry Maragh, past president of the Shipping Association of Jamaica and chairman of Lannaman & Morris Shipping.

As a pioneer within the cruise shipping and tourism industry, he served with foresight, integrity and dedication. Indeed, Jamaica, the region, and the international shipping community have lost a true stalwart.

Mr Maragh has left behind a trail of remarkable successes. His advocacy work on behalf of port workers was instrumental in the development of the Kingston Port Workers’ Superannuation Fund and is a testament to his unwavering spirit, steadfast will and determination.

Mr Maragh is fondly remembered for his dedicated life and service to others. His mentorship of many within the shipping industry has left an indelible mark, inspiring the continuation of his legacy.

As we celebrate his life and service, the JMEA offers its heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, staff and associates. May his legacy live on, and may his soul rest in eternal peace.

Grantley Stephenson

Deputy Chairman, Kingston Wharves Limited

The passing of Harry Maragh is truly the end of an era. For so long, Harry, an unassuming figure, loomed so large in the shipping industry and in the lives of all of us in the sector.

Harry was a true and faithful friend and brother to me — our friendship dating back over 35 years.

I have always taken personal pride in Harry’s achievements. I watched him make the transition from an employee at Lannaman and Morris to owning the company, and then transforming it into one of the most successful shipping agencies in Jamaica and the region. He was an astute businessman who worked hard and made tremendous sacrifices for all his accomplishments, helping many others along the way.

Serving together with him on the boards of the Shipping Association of Jamaica and Kingston Wharves Limited (KWL), I could rely on his balanced approach on matters before us, even as he worked assiduously to generate more business opportunities for KWL.

A humble man who never forgot his modest roots, Harry was one of those persons of whom it could be said, 'He walked with kings, but never lost the common touch'.

Shipping and the wider Jamaican business community have lost a giant. Harry’s passing will leave a void that cannot be easily filled, but he has left a legacy that will undoubtedly be carried on by those whom he mentored. My family and I will sorely miss him.

I extend condolences to his wife Charmaine, his children Racquel and Ryan, his extended family, his team at Lannaman and Morris, as well as the shipping community.

Trevor Riley

CEO, The Shipping Association of Jamaica

The very essence of Harry Maragh was optimism. He was also one of the most creative people I knew. He and I spoke often and in every conversation, Harry came up with a new idea, or a new set of ideas, of something that could make good business or make Jamaica really take off economically. The results of this optimism and creativity were obvious.

Harry was the epitome of business success. He was also the standard for humility … a man from very humble roots who reached the pinnacle of personal success, but who was truly able to walk with kings and maintain a common touch. It is difficult to speak of Harry Maragh in the past tense. His contribution and mentorship to the growth of the shipping industry and the people in it are deep and wide, not only in Jamaica, but across the Caribbean and South Florida.

I am happy to have called him friend. His impact on my life and that of so many others is lasting. My sincere condolences to his wife Charmaine, his daughter Racquel and his son Ryan, as well as all the staff of his companies.