The Port Authority of Jamaica is contemplating building a new berth at the Ocho Rios pier to replace the existing main terminal, which was significantly damaged by a cruise vessel during a freak storm in February, rendering the facility inoperable.

Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett, who made the announcement in the House of Representatives on Tuesday (April 30), said the authority is exploring options to repair the berth or build a new one that could accommodate two large vessels. 

Opening the 2024/2025 Sectoral Debate, Bartlett stated that given the inoperability of the pier, cruise vessels originally scheduled to dock at the Ocho Rios main terminal have been rescheduled to the nearby Reynolds Pier in the meantime. 

According to Bartlett, “Fortunately, Madam Speaker, investments were made to improve cruise handling capabilities at Reynolds Pier, allowing Ocho Rios to retain a significant portion of its cruise calls and passengers. Madam Speaker, all the other vessels not booked into the Reynolds Pier have been rebooked to berths in Falmouth and Montego Bay.” 

He pointed out that although Jamaica has temporarily lost the main berth in Ocho Rios, the island still has five other berths on the north coast capable of accommodating most of the Post Panamax vessels currently in service in the Caribbean. 

Minister Bartlett used the occasion to announce that in June, Jamaica will host the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association’s 2024 Platinum (PAMAC) member cruise summit, which is on track to attract the highest number of participants ever from the Caribbean and Mexico. 

This, he said will create an opportunity to host the senior executives of all the major cruise lines, their itinerary planners and destination executives to whom Jamaica will be able to showcase the developments at its five cruise terminals and the new features of the island’s world-class attractions.