Fri | Nov 29, 2024

Shipping Industry: The year that was (Part 3)

Published:Tuesday | January 9, 2024 | 12:05 AM
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Members of the Jamaica Freight and Shipping Company Limited with Prime Minister Andrew Holness (third from left) and Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Senator Aubyn Hill (right), at the opening of Expo Jamaica 2023 at the National Arena in Apr
Contributed
Members of the Jamaica Freight and Shipping Company Limited with Prime Minister Andrew Holness (third from left) and Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Senator Aubyn Hill (right), at the opening of Expo Jamaica 2023 at the National Arena in April 2023.
Nearly 500 delegates were registered for the Caribbean Shipping Association’s Annual General Meeting, Conference and Exhibition, held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago.
Contributed
Nearly 500 delegates were registered for the Caribbean Shipping Association’s Annual General Meeting, Conference and Exhibition, held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago.
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As we conclude a year marked by both favourable and challenging developments in the maritime sector, the Shipping Industry reviews key stories that influenced shipping and logistics in 2023. The region experienced significant achievements, such as Jamaica’s introduction of its first floating dock and an agreement between the Caribbean Shipping Association (CSA) and the Inter-American Development Bank which highlight positive strides for the industry.

As the industry looks forward, we share the final instalment in our recap of events that defined the previous year.

CSA AGM records largest-ever audience

The 53rd Annual General Meeting, Conference, and Exhibition of the Caribbean Shipping Association had a notable turnout, with around 500 delegates gathered at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. Marc Sampson secured his presidency for the third consecutive term at the event hosted by the Shipping Association of Trinidad and Tobago. The flagship event for the Caribbean maritime industry serves as a central platform for industry leaders, stakeholders, and experts to engage in discussions that shape the future of regional shipping.

Charles Johnston receives OJ

Shipping icon Charles Johnston was honoured with the Order of Jamaica for his contributions to Jamaica’s shipping and logistics sector on October 16, 2023. Johnston’s connection to the Shipping Association of Jamaica (SAJ) dates to 1966. He was elected to the SAJ managing committee in 1976 and assumed the role of president in 1993. Johnston’s accomplishments earned him the Order of Distinction in 2006 and induction into the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica’s Hall of Fame in 2008.

He is executive chairman at Jamaica Fruit and Shipping Company Limited and serves on the boards of Jamaica Producers Group Limited, Kingston Wharves Limited, Jamaica Freight and Shipping Limited, and Kingston Logistics Centre Limited. In 2022, he received further recognition by being installed in the Hall of Fame of the Shipping Association of Jamaica for his impact on the Jamaican and Caribbean shipping industry.

Farewell to shipping icon Laurence Paul Scott

The maritime industry mourned the loss of Laurence Paul Scott, a prominent figure in Jamaica’s shipping sector and former SAJ chairman. Scott’s career began at GraceKennedy Shipping in 1958. He served as honorary secretary of the Joint Industrial Council, where he helped to negotiate benefits for port workers, including a health and medical scheme, pension plan, paid vacation leave, guaranteed weekly wages, and an incentive scheme.

His devotion to Jamaica’s maritime community earned him the induction into the SAJ’s Hall of Fame in 2022. His legacy is marked by his decades-long service to the industry and his dedication to fostering innovation, productivity, and harmony.

Expo Jamaica

The industry had a significant presence at the 48th staging of Expo Jamaica, which attracted over 200 exhibitors from various sectors. The SAJ facilitated the participation of five members–ADVANTUM, Atlantic Shipping, Jamaica Freight and Shipping Company Limited, Maritime and Transport Services Limited, and the SAJ Consultancy Group. The expo, held under the theme ‘Connecting the World to Jamaica,’ was opened by Prime Minister Andrew Holness.

Additional SAJ members, including Jamaica Trading Services Limited, Kingston Wharves Limited, Lannaman and Morris Shipping, Laparkan Jamaica, and Seaboard Jamaica, presented independently at the biennial event. Organised by the Jamaica Manufacturers and Exporters Association, Expo Jamaica took place at the National Arena and the National Indoor Sports Centre and attracted over 15,000 patrons from April 27-30.

Election of new IMO secretary general

Arsenio Antonio Dominguez Velasco was elected as the next secretary general of the International Maritime Organization (IMO). The decision, unanimously approved by the IMO Assembly, follows the council’s endorsement during its 129th session on November 30. Dominguez Velasco assumed office on January 1, 2024, marking the commencement of his initial four-year term, which ends December 31, 2027. His tenure with the IMO began in 2017, when he joined as the chief of staff to the secretary general. He was appointed as the director of the organisation’s Administrative Division in 2020.