Jamaica Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, the Hon Anthony Hylton, said: “With each passing day Jamaica moves one step closer to the imminent transformation of the economy and the job creation, via the vehicle of the Global Logistics Hub. This hub is a global asset and will leverage Jamaica’s economic prowess. This is not just a Government initiative but one whose success depends on the input of our global and local partners in the private sector.”

Following a “phenomenally successful” Government/Private Sector mission to the Middle East, Jamaica has signed a Bilateral Investment Treaty with Kuwait and is in the process of developing a Memorandum of Understanding with potential partner Dry Docks World Dubai.

Both Dry Docks World Dubai and Dubai Ports (DP) World have committed to visit Jamaica in the coming months to further discussions on potential partnership opportunities.

Minister Hylton, said the meetings were “particularly fruitful, as each company expressed its keen interest I supporting Jamaica in the development of the Jamaica logistics project.” He added: “Our prime geographical position has handed us a platinum opportunity and one which we must maximize.”

During its visit to the Middle East, the seven-member delegation met with several influential industry organisations representing the maritime sector, logistics, aviation and financing. This included the Deputy Chairman of Emirates Airlines with whom they discussed transhipment operations and the centrality of logistics as a growth catalyst.

This Middle East trip was the latest in a series of high-profile business missions which has seen Jamaica outline its proposals for preparing the country to take advantage of the projected increase in the movement of goods when the Panama Canal expansion is completed in 2015. Successful visits have already been made to Panama, the Netherlands, China and Singapore.

Jamaica is developing a master plan to ensure it has the necessary infrastructure and workforce and will put in place the legislative arrangements to allow the country to take its place as a key location in the global supply chain.

Taking part in the Middle East mission were: Dr Eric Deans, Chairman of the Logistics Task Force; Dr Dana Morris Dixon, Acting President of Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO); Clive Fagan, Chairman of the Factories Corporation of Jamaica; Leroy Lindsay, Senior Aviation Consultant for the Civil Aviation Authority; Kim Clarke, President of the Shipping Association of Jamaica; Trevor Riley, General Manager of the Shipping Association of Jamaica; and Francis Kennedy, President of the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce.

Port of Stockton’s implementation of Tideworks’ TOS is part of the M-580 Marine Highway, a federally funded project aimed at moving ocean shipping containers by barge instead of truck between Oakland and the Central Valley in California.

“We are thrilled to partner with Port of Stockton and be involved with the Marine Highway project,” said Michael Schwank, president of Tideworks. “As the federal government pushes to remove trucks from the roads and reduce congestion and emissions, the Port of Stockton will need to be prepared to efficiently handle this new volume. With Tideworks, the Port of Stockton is in an excellent, scalable growth position.”

The Port of Stockton will deploy Tideworks’ Spinnaker Planning Management System® and StarGate, Spinnaker’s integrated gate utility, for its container-on-barge operation. Tideworks will provide implementation services including: project management, software configuration and installation, user training and go-live assistance. Tideworks will deliver the solutions under a “Software-as-a-Service (SaaS)” model, providing infrastructure and hosting services, as well as its platinum software maintenance and support service, which includes 24/7 technical support and all software upgrades. Tideworks’ TOS is expected to go live at the Port of Stockton in the second quarter of 2013.

“Tideworks was our choice because we knew we’d have great technology and the support to match,” said Mark Tollini, deputy director of Port of Stockton. “We considered other systems, but wanted an integrated gate-yard-vessel solution with EDI capabilities and communication standards to allow for interoperability with other container terminals. We also needed a cost-effective solution that could be installed in a very short timeframe; Tideworks’ hosted model fills both of those requirements. With Tideworks, we are confident that we will be able to meet the needs of our customers today and our customers in the future.”

The IsatData Pro(IDP) series operates on the Inmarsat I-4 constellation which provides improved network speed. Polling request and response times now takes 30-45 seconds, which is four times faster than its predecessor.

Transas ShipGuard 4 SSAS is type-approved by Germanischer Lloyd and provides regulatory SSAS functionality.  It includes modem / GPS receiver, two alert activation circuits and on-board OFF/ON/TEST key switch. The system can be reset remotely via Transas FleetView Online web-based SSAS-tracking service and allows for daily position reporting and polling via www.fleetviewonline.com.

HPA staff members are volunteering to help rowing teams from area high schools and McMaster University stay safe during their training programs this spring.  HPA has partnered with the Leander Boat Club to provide on-water support during the cold water training period, with volunteers stationed aboard the Port’s new Zodiac Rigid Hulled Inflatable Boat (RHIB).

HPA acquired its new Zodiac RHIB in 2012 as part of its ongoing commitment to a safe and secure port and harbour. 

A 2011 incident involving school rowing teams dramatically illustrated how quickly conditions on the harbour can change, creating hazards for boaters of all kinds.

Several HPA staff completed Marine Emergency certification in order to be part of the volunteer safety team, in addition to holding a Pleasure Craft Operator Card.  HPA’s President & CEO Bruce Wood is one of the early-morning volunteers.

“It is wonderful to see these young athletes out here, and we are pleased to help make sure everyone stays safe and has fun on the water.  Safety is paramount in everything we do at the Port, so it seemed like a natural thing for us to offer our resources and expertise to Leander and its rowing crews,” said Wood.

“I am especially proud of my staff, who are down here at dawn to volunteer their time and skills in service to the community.”

Leander Boat Club’s cold water training program runs weekday mornings starting at 5:30 am, from early April to June 1. Rowing crews are on the water in single skulls, doubles, fours and eights, with coach boats along side.

“Leander is committed to maintaining a high priority on safety for all of our rowers and coaches,” said Leander Club Captain Aubrey Oldham.  In addition to our own safety training, equipment, and procedures, we are thrilled to have on-water support from the Port Authority volunteers every morning.”