The Bridgetown Port has announced operational changes it says should reduce container-related port charges by ten percent and save customers millions of dollars annually.
Chief Executive Officer, David Jean-Marie, says that effective this coming Sunday, April 9th, there will be a transition to what’s called a full Free Out Port.
At the same time, the Port will move stevedoring services in-house, for execution by Port labour.
The Port CEO expects these changes to improve the efficiency and productivity of overall port operations, while reducing container-related port costs to customers by 10 percent per twenty-foot standardized shipping container.
He estimates the net saving to customers in Barbados from the proposed transition will be approximately 7.6 Million Barbados dollars per year.
Outlining the benefits the new model will bring, Mr. Jean-Marie says that shipping lines will have more transparent ocean freight, while customers will benefit from a lower Cost Insurance and Freight (CIF) value and consequentially lower imposts.
Additionally, he said Barbados Port Incorporated’s transition to a full Free Out Port will streamline billing arrangements.
