Barbados Port Inc. advises that our Cube Blue office is closed to business today, Monday July 15 2024.
The closure is a necessary safety precaution taken as a result of a lingering chemical scent following an industrial cleaning of the building over the weekend.
Given the unavailability of our cashiers, customers are encouraged to pay online via our corporate website www.barbadosport.com, and not visit the Cube Blue location.
Barbados Port Inc. expects a return to normal conditions on Tuesday July 16, 2024 and apologises for the inconvenience caused.
Further to the closure of the Cargo Gate at the Port of Bridgetown, Barbados Port Inc. advises that the Customs Cashiers have been relocated to Shed 2.
Persons seeking to pay Customs Duties at Shed 2 should enter via the Main Gate.
Port entry should be requested via https://barbadosport.com/request-port-entry/
Please note Cashiers will be available during the adjusted opening hours of the Shed i.e from 7 a.m. to 12 noon.
Please be guided accordingly until further notice.
Further to the closure of the Cargo Gate at the Port of Bridgetown, Barbados Port Inc. will be limiting the operating hours of Shed 2 in an effort to reduce congestion within the Port facility.
Shed 2 will be open for the delivery of cargo from 7 a.m. to 12 noon until further notice.
Please be guided accordingly.
Barbados Port Inc. advises that the Cargo Gate at the Port of Bridgetown is closed to business until further notice.
As a result, effective 7:00 a.m. Tuesday, June 25, 2024, the following activities will be permitted via the North Gate:
- Processing of all commercial and personal cargo.
- Entry and exit of all cargo and container trucks
- Exit of all vehicles carrying personal cargo
Port Security and Customs personnel will be relocated to the North Gate to facilitate cargo processing.
All customers seeking to conduct business at Shed 2 i.e the collection of barrels and personal cargo, should enter via the Main Gate.
Approved applications for entry via the Cargo Gate will be accepted for entry via the Main Gate.
The Cargo Gate closure is a necessary safety precaution which is being taken in light of ongoing construction at the old Sugar Bond site and the weather conditions predicting high winds over the next few days.
While some delays are expected due to increased traffic flows via the North Gate, we assure you that our teams will work to mitigate extended wait times. All visitors to the Port are asked to comply with the safety guidelines and directives issued by security and law enforcement Personnel.
Barbados Port Inc. apologises for the inconvenience and extends appreciation to all parties for their patience and understanding during this period.
Barbados Port Inc. announces a 7.5% reduction in port-related container charges effective February 1, 2024.
A list of the revised rates as applicable, may be viewed via our website at Revised Cargo Handling Charges.
Figure 1. illustrates the 7.5% reduction per Twenty-Foot Equivalent Unit (TEU) for three categories of imported and exported cargo.
| Figure 1. Reduced Costs Per (TEU) of Imported and Exported Cargo (VAT Incl.) | |||
| 20 ft Container (Dry) | 20 ft Container (Refrigerated) | 20 ft Container (Loaded Export) | |
| Port charges (prior to April 2023) | $1,650.99 | $1,719.14 | $640.64 |
| Port Charges (Effective April 2023) | $1,488.73 | $1,551.00 | $630.98 |
| Port Charges (Effective February 1, 2024) | $1,377.08 | $1,434.68 | $583.66 |
The Port of Bridgetown will be open to business for the clearing of personal effects at Shed 2 as follows:
| Date | Hours | Last Available Appointment |
| Wednesday January 3, 2024 | 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. | 5:00 p.m. |
| Thursday January 4, 2024 | 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. | 5:00 p.m. |
| Friday January 5, 2024 | 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. | 5:00 p.m. |
The Port of Bridgetown will be open to business for the clearing of personal effects at Shed 2 as follows:
| Date | Hours | Last Available Appointment |
| Monday to Friday December 11- 15, 2023 | 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. | 5:00 p.m. |
| Monday to Friday December 18-22, 2023 | 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. | 5:00 p.m. |
| Saturday December 16 & 23, 2023 | 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. | 2:00 p.m. |
Barbados Port Inc. is encouraging customers to utilize the online facility available for making both personal and commercial cargo payments.
This e-payment system saves time and offers customers the enhanced convenience and flexibility to pay anytime from anywhere.
The secure, online portal accepts both debit and credit card payments.
Simply visit our corporate website www.barbadosport.com to make payments in a few easy steps:
- Select the E-Services option
- Select e-Payment Portal
- Select Continue
- Select Add
- Enter either the Bill of Lading or Delivery Order number noted on your document
- Select Continue
- Correctly enter the CAPTCHA code displayed
- Select I understand and agree with the above and then select Confirm
- Complete your debit/credit card details
- Select Submit Payment
Fees payable include:
For Personal Cargo
- The Barrel Equivalent Unit Fee
- Storage Fees
- Free Alongside Ship (FAS) charges.
For Commercial Cargo
- Free Alongside Ship (FAS), (Receiving Storage & Delivery and Tonnage Dues)
- Unstuffing Charges
- Storage Charges
- Plug Charges
- Hazardous Cargo Handling Charges
- Security Charges
Customers who opt to make payments in person, should note that Barbados Port Inc. cashiers are no longer stationed at the Cargo Gate.
Cashiers have since January 2023 relocated to our Administration offices at Cube Blue.
Follow us on Facebook or Instagram @barbadosportinc for the latest updates on doing business at the Port of Bridgetown.
The transition to a new operating model at the Port of Bridgetown will reduce container-related port charges by 10%.
Chief Executive Officer, Mr. David Jean-Marie, announced that effective April 9th, 2023, Barbados Port Inc. (BPI) will transition the Port of Bridgetown to a full Free Out Port. At the same time, he said BPI will move stevedoring services in-house, for execution by Port labour.
The Chief Executive explained “These changes are expected to improve the efficiency and productivity of overall port operations, while reducing container-related port costs to customers by 10% per twenty-foot standardized shipping container”.
Assuming an annual throughput of 100,000 Twenty-Foot Equivalent Unit (TEU) containers at the Port, distributed by imported, exported, transhipped and empty container categories, he said the net saving to customers in Barbados from the proposed transition is approximately Bds$7.6 Million annually.
The saving per TEU in the Dry container category will be Bds$162.27 while that per TEU Refrigerated will be $168.14 and that for Loaded Exports will be $63.22 per TEU.
Outlining the benefits the new model will bring, Mr. Jean-Marie noted that Shipping Lines will have a more transparent ocean freight, while customers will benefit from a lower Cost Insurance and Freight (CIF) value and consequentially lower imposts.
Additionally, he said BPI’s transition to a full Free Out Port will streamline billing arrangements, where all the cargo-specific costs previously charged through the shipping line as part of the ocean freight, as well as the new consolidated stevedoring services charge and revised Free Alongside Ship (FAS) charge, will now be collected by the Port from local importers/consignees.
He noted “all BPI operational, logistics and billing systems have been adapted to ensure a seamless transition to our taking responsibility for stevedoring.”
“We are confident that this transition is in the fairest interest of our respective customers, as we continue to strengthen the Port of Bridgetown’s international trade regime,” he stated.
Following discussions on the changes that will result from the transition to a full Free Out Port, President of the Barbados Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI), Anthony Branker, said “we are supportive of BPI’s move as it will not result in an increase in cost to importers, but rather a minimal cost saving by the 10% savings in port cost.
The BCCI recognizes that the BPI has no control over Ocean Freight rates but has committed to working with the BPI as this transition is made and stands ready to offer any clarifications on these changes outlined.”
An improved operational plan has been effected to assist homeport cruise passengers disembarking within the Port of Bridgetown. The announcement was made by Barbados Port Inc. (BPI) Chief Executive Officer, Mr. David Jean-Marie. “BPI recognizes that some guests who had taken the Rhapsody of Seas cruise were in recent times understandably unhappy with traffic movements within the Port of Bridgetown which may have caused a disappointing end to their vacation. The main challenge related to the transit of disembarking guests and luggage between the homeport terminal (Shed 3) and the exit gate”, he said.
New Operational Plan
The CEO revealed that BPI, in collaboration with the Customs and Excise Department, has therefore sought to ensure that the passenger, upon final clearance of baggage, now has the following options:
- Board any of the free shuttle buses with luggage, transiting from Shed 3 to the Cruise Terminal Carpark, which has been designated for passenger Pickup/Dropoff.
- Take one of the taxis available at Shed 3 for transport to final destination.
- Walk if preferred with their luggage, from Shed 3 to the designated passenger Pickup/Dropoff area or Exit gate.
To facilitate this process, BPI has committed to the following:
- Provision of more suitable shuttle buses, with a larger seating capacity and baggage compartment.
- Provision of personnel to assist in loading and offloading baggage from the vehicles at Shed 3 and Cruise Terminal Carpark.
- Continued rotation of authorised taxis at Shed 3 to move passengers and luggage to final destination.
- Continued facilitation of access to all persons doing passenger pickups with valid QR codes to the designated passenger Pickup/Drop Off area.
Port Entry for Passenger Pickup& Drop Off
BPI reminds all persons seeking to enter the Port for cruise passenger pickup or drop off that applications for Port entry must be completed and submitted through the online portal at https://barbadosport.com/request-entry/. This is mandatory and in keeping with our own obligatory security and safety protocols as a border agency.
Applications for entry must be approved prior to coming to the Port and will be confirmed through the issuance of a QR Code via return email.
The QR Code must be presented to Security on arrival in order to gain access. Entrants will then be directed to the designated Pick-up and Drop Off area by Security personnel. No extended waiting/parking is allowed in Port, given space limitations. Passengers disembarking and requiring taxi services, are encouraged to utilize the registered seaport taxis available on site.
Traffic Advisory
All visitors are further advised that the Port is very active on homeporting days, with hundreds of people moving in and out in just a few hours. Movements include disembarking and embarking guests, crew members, port staff, local regulatory authorities, port tenants and service companies, which may at times result in increased wait times at the Gate. BPI therefore encourages members of the public to comply with entry protocols, which are also intended to minimize traffic delays at the Gates.