Durrant Pate/Contributor

Jamaica has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Dominican Republic, under which both states have committed to strengthening their port systems.

Signed in the capital Santo Domingo by Professor Gordon Shirley, president and CEO of the Port Authority of Jamaica, and Jean Luis Rodríguez, director of the Autoridad Portuaria Dominicana (APORDOM)—the MOU outlines commitments for both entities to freely exchange information within the bounds of applicable laws, related to the cargo and cruise industries at each port. 

This includes sharing historical statistical data, projected port infrastructure developments, and general market research to boost cruise and cargo traffic. Both countries have committed to focusing on internal processes related to health, safety, efficiency, and quality (HSEQ) in maritime operations. 

Other commitments made in the MOU

The parties will explore the possibility of creating joint itinerary packages with other ports or destinations to offer to cruise lines. The pact includes provisions for establishing technical and financial collaborations through joint ventures or other commercial agreements to promote port traffic and related activities.

English-predominant media house dominicantoday.com reports that the MOU also covers the exploration of port services such as towing, piloting, mooring, and security inspection. The agreement calls for the formation of technical working groups to facilitate educational visits and promote goodwill. 

These groups will work together to enhance the business relationship and promote the advantages of their maritime ports. They will also participate jointly in key conventions and events to build cooperative relationships and develop productive bilateral alliances.

Furthermore, both port authorities will explore additional areas of cooperation and partnership as part of the international pact. They will share information with prior authorization and commitment from affected third parties, regarding improvements or modernizations aimed at addressing increasing demand or enhancing customer services.

In line with this agreement, both parties will share details about training programs and develop joint training seminars and exchange activities. For his part, Professor Shirley expressed his enthusiasm for the MOU, highlighting its importance in strengthening maritime connections between the two nations.

His Dominican counterpart, Luis Rodríguez emphasised that the MOU marks a significant milestone in port development for both countries, creating opportunities to adopt best practices, implement training programs, and improve health, safety, efficiency, and quality in maritime operations.

Additionally, he said the pact aims to foster collaborative projects between the Dominican Republic and Jamaica.