As part of the national COVID-19 response, an appointment system has been implemented at the Port of Bridgetown effective Tuesday, April 14, 2020, to ensure cargo identified as essential, is unstuffed and delivered to consignees and that exports are facilitated in an efficient and timely manner.
This new protocol is a collaborative initiative of Barbados Port Inc., the Customs & Excise Department, the Ministry of Health and Wellness’ Port Health Unit, the Ministry of Agriculture’s Plant Quarantine and Veterinary Services Units, and the Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce.
Please click here for details on the appointment system (pdf).
As a critical link in the supply chain, Barbados Port Inc continues to facilitate the entry of goods into the island.
Our nation is depending on us to ensure food, medical, household and other critical supplies necessary to fight COVID-19 that are arriving by sea, make their way through the chain to meet our collective needs.
To reduce the risks to our employees, customers and others interacting with the port however, the following measures have been enacted to facilitate business while limiting personal contact:
- For payments made in person to cashiers at the Administration Building, transactions will be limited to four persons at a time. Separate waiting areas have been designated. We do apologise if your wait is a little longer as a result of this change.
- Customers are encouraged to use electronic payment options available.
- I. Pre-payment accounts
- II. Direct deposits
To set up a pre-payment account:
- Send your request to Management Accountant, Ms. Keyshia Barrow via email at kbarrow@barbadosport.com, copied to accountsreceivable@barbadosport.com.
- An initial deposit amount will be agreed.
- On payment of the deposit, BPI will confirm receipt and set up your account.
- At set-up, you will be advised of your top-up requirements.
- Transactions will be processed only if funds are on the account.
For direct deposits:
Send requests for instructions to Management Accountant, Ms. Keyshia Barrow via email at kbarrow@barbadosport.com, copied to accountsreceivable@barbadosport.com.
If you or anyone in your immediate household have travelled within the last 14 days, or you are exhibiting any of the following symptoms: fever, coughing, shortness of breath, please do not come to the Port of Bridgetown.
You are reminded to follow the recommended protocols for personal hygiene and social distancing as advised by the Ministry of Health and Wellness.
In order to protect both customers and staff against the risk and exposure to the Coronavirus (COVID-19), Barbados Port Inc. (BPI) has instituted a number of in-house measures, including:
- Enhanced sanitization of public and work spaces before work on a daily basis and at regular intervals during the day.
- Continuous sensitization of staff at all levels.
- Mandatory requirements that vessels calling at the Port outline their COVID-19 protocols including the following:
- A daily email from all ships stating the health of the crewmembers onboard.
- Establishment of a “hand washing station” at the gangway of all ships. ALL persons will use hand sanitizer and or wash hands frequently.
- Before and after each port call, cleaning of the public areas with a water & bleach solution will be performed. The goal is to keep the ship sanitized for everyone and to reduce exposure by local staff while working cargo vessels.
- Measures to minimize entry and movement through the Port of non-essential personnel.
- Suspension of all public tours of the port until further notice.
Agents and stevedores are advised that effective immediately and until further notice, the daily briefing meeting will be conducted as needed and/or via a video conference as required. In addition, any other requisite information will be shared via email.
Customers are reminded that the Port utilizes electronic systems for manifest transmission, terminal operation and management. These measures will continue to facilitate business while minimizing personal contact.
Customers collecting personal effects are advised to utilize the online systems to track cargo, update security credentials to facilitate access and come to the Port only when cargo has been confirmed as ready for collection. Customers transiting the public spaces are also reminded to make use of the hand sanitizer units installed across the Port.
The Public and Staff are reminded that they should follow the recommended protocols for personal hygiene and social distancing as advised by the Ministry of Health and Wellness.
BPI will continue to work with officials to follow public health recommendations and will share updates, guidance and information on any further actions to be taken.
The Board of Directors and management assures you of our commitment to maintaining a safe and healthy work environment in the interest of all Barbadians.
Barbados has set a new record for cruise passenger arrivals in a single year.
Barbados Port Inc. is reporting cruise passenger arrivals totaling 853 200 from 422 cruise ship calls during the period January to December 2019, the highest on record to date.
This number represents a 3% increase in cruise passenger arrivals at the Port of Bridgetown over 2018. Barbados’ previous cruise high was 827 486 visitors registered in 2017, when the island benefitted significantly from the redeployment of ships from other destinations ravaged by hurricanes that year. In 2018, some 826 267 cruise passenger arrivals were registered from 437 vessel calls.
Barbados has also recorded significant growth in its homeporting operations. Some 227 192 homeporting arrivals were registered at the Port of Bridgetown in 2019, a 15.6% increase over 2018 when 197 185 homeporting passengers were noted. Homeporting calls declined slightly from 157 in 2018 to 153 last year, but the visitor growth was achieved with the Marella, AIDA and TUI cruise lines all deploying larger capacity ships.
On the Barbados itinerary, AIDA exchanged its 2 030 passenger capacity AIDA Diva, for the AIDA Perla, which carries 3 286 passengers. TUI similarly exchanged its Mein Schiff 5 with a capacity of 2 500, for the 2 894 passenger Mein Schiff 2. The number of calls from Marella also increased from 31 in 2018 to 45 in 2019.
Minister of Maritime Affairs and the Blue Economy, Hon. Kirk Humphrey, in commenting on the results, said Barbados Port Inc. has been moving to enhance its cruise operations and has been making strides to address issues related to port capacity constraints. In 2019, he said BPI implemented a number of initiatives to address findings noted in the National Cruise Development Commission Report, 2019. These include enhanced wayfinding and guest experiences through the installation of signage, the renovation and enhancement of taxi dispatch facilities and the offering of improved guest services such as the quay to terminal tram service. BPI has also been actively engaging cruise lines, in partnership with key industry stakeholders including Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc (BTMI).
Looking to the future Minister Humphrey said, “With the trend towards mega ships and the projected increase in cruise tourism passengers, BPI also has to respond to the growing numbers of smaller vessel operations, who desire a more geographically segmented product for their passengers, physically separated from the large vessel cruise tourism typically handled at the Port of Bridgetown.”
To this end, BPI has invited Expressions of Interest from potential joint venture partners for the design, construction, operation and management of a cruise ship pier and ancillary facilities at Speightstown, St. Peter. Minister Humphrey explained, “Establishment of cruise facilities in the North of the island is part of the product differentiation thrust which will position Barbados to capture the super yachts and small luxury class cruise vessels segments of the cruise industry.”
The proposal to develop cruise facilities in Speightstown is expected to create growth opportunities for residents and existing businesses in the area. The initiative is not just a construction project on its own, but is rather a developmental project, incorporating planning gains as legislated by the Cabinet of Barbados for new projects, with attendant benefits for the surrounding community.
BPI has also invited Expressions of Interest from potential joint venture partners for the the design and construction of additional berths and ancillary facilities in the Shallow Draught at the Port of Bridgetown. The Minister said this development is intended to drive marina business in recreational boating and yachting.
BPI is also currently reviewing the plans for cruise facilities in Bridgetown, with the aim of separating the mega cruise vessel operations from the cargo operations in the Deep Water Harbour, to ensure that the service levels to each sector can be better streamlined, particularly with respect to specific homeporting requirements. Discussions are currently underway with potential partners for this mega cruise ship project.
The Port of Bridgetown’s cruise-ship schedule for 2020 projects a total of 427 cruise ship calls, bringing an estimated 850 000 passengers to the island.
Barbados Port Inc has introduced an online system for the application and approval of port access requests.
The new system, developed in-house by the Management Information Systems and Security Services teams, will allow persons seeking Port entry to submit requests via this link.
Successful applicants will be sent a QR code via return email, which must be presented on arrival at the Main Gate for scanning by security officers. Unsuccessful applicants will receive a notification via email, which will include the reason for denied entry.
This new method, which will allow for enhanced security and visitor processing, is currently limited to persons requiring access via the Main Gate for purposes including business meetings, cruise passenger pickup or drop off, building maintenance and other services. It will also extend to tour operators offering shore excursions and air/sea transfers and persons providing quay shuttle services.
Same day and emergency access requests should be directed to the Security Office via telephone 434 6106 or email access@barbadosport.com for approval.
Representatives of Barbados Port Inc (BPI) , Platinum Port Agency Inc., Foster and Ince Cruise Services and Bridgetown Cruise Terminal Inc., greeted the Viking Sun on its inaugural visit to the Port of Bridgetown on Sunday October 27, 2019. A traditional plaque exchange ceremony was held on board to mark the occasion.
The Viking Sun, the fourth in a series of 10 identical vessels built for Viking Ocean Cruises, spent the day in Port with its sister ship, the Viking Sea. Along with the Norwegian Dawn, also in Port on that, approximately 5 000 visitors were welcomed to the island, signaling the official start of the 2019/20 cruise season.
The 2-year-old ship, sailed in from San Juan, Puerto Rico on its Ultimate World Cruise 2019 journey, a 245-day itinerary, slated to visit 113 ports in 59 countries on 6 continents.
The itinerary is listed as the longest continuous passenger cruise in the Guinness Book of World Records, taking cruisers to Scandinavia, the Caribbean, South America, the South Pacific Islands, Australia and Asia before returning to the Mediterranean and Europe. The Viking Sun set sail from Greenwich, London on August 31 this year for the eight-month long voyage, which ends back in Greenwich on May 1, 2020. An official Guinness World Record adjudicator is expected to confirm the successful attempt with a certification upon the return of the ship to London. Some 55 passengers are sailing the full itinerary on board the 930-passenger liner. Others have opted for shorter cruise itineraries available as part of journey.
The MSC Meraviglia sailed into Barbados, setting a new record as the largest cruise ship to call at the Port of Bridgetown.
That record was previously held by the Quantum of the Seas.
With a 5 714 passenger capacity and a gross tonnage of 171,598 tonnes, the Meraviglia is ranked among the top 10 largest cruise ships in the world.
Representatives of Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc., Barbados Port Inc,, Platinum Port Agency Inc. and the Consulate of Italy in Barbados, welcomed the captain and crew in a brief onboard reception, during which commemorative plaques were exchanged to mark the inaugural visit.
The Meraviglia is currently on a 13-day cruise itinerary which departed New York on October 28 and ends Miami on November 10, 2019. This voyage is its first Caribbean sailing. Coming in from Fort de France, Martinique, the ship left Barbados for Grenada.
The 2-year-old Meraviglia, owned and operated by MSC Cruises, is the lead ship of MSC’s new “Vista Project” vessels, known as the Meraviglia-class. At 316 meters long and 65 meters high, it boasts decks, all named after the wonders of the world.
The Port of Bridgetown welcomed the Vasco Da Gama on its inaugural call on Saturday October 26, 2019.
A brief reception was held on board where Captain Andrey Lesnichiy was presented with a commemorative plaque by Harbour Master Carl Gonsalves. Others attending the ceremony where representatives of Platinum Port Agency Inc and Barbados Port Inc.
The 1 220 passenger Vasco Da Gama joined the Cruise & Maritime Voyages (CMV) fleet as its sixth vessel in April 2019, and is on a 53-day one way cruise from Amsterdam to Sydney through ports in the Caribbean, Mexico, French Polynesia, Cook Islands, New Zealand and Australia. The cruise began October 8 and ends December 1, 2019. From Barbados, the Vasco Da Gama set sail for Oranjestad, Aruba.
Barbados Port Inc. and the Customs & Excise Department are working in partnership to resolve issues being experienced during the transition to ASYCUDA World.
For assistance in the clearance of commercial cargo and personal effects related to:
- Delays in release
- Challenges accessing the BPI Web Portal
- Payment of Port Charges
Please call us at 434 6118, during the hours of 8:00 am to 4:00 pm or email us at queries@barbadosport.com.
The call centre will be available until September 26, 2019.
Barbados Port Inc (BPI) has commenced the assembly of a new Panamax Crane on Berth 4N at the Port of Bridgetown.
One hundred meters of berth to the North is being utilised for this assembly, subsequently restricting the number of Cargo vessels we can service at a time to one (1).
Cruise vessels berthing near the area may be required to utilize floating marine fenders.
Additionally, both Ship-to-Shore cranes will be relocated to the South end of the quay.
The installation of the new crane is expected to be completed by Friday May 31, 2019. Following its commissioning, the three cranes on the quay will be positioned with two cranes to the south and one to the North in most instances.
BPI apologizes for any inconvenience caused during the period of installation, as we move to enhance our services and facilities.