The Port Authority of Jamaica (PAJ) is an agency of the
Ministry of Transport and Mining
The Ministry of Transport and Mining is a cabinet position in Jamaica responsible for regulating and developing Jamaica's transport system. The Ministry is also responsible for regulating the mining industry in Jamaica. The current minister is Robe ...
responsible for the:
* regulation and development of Jamaica's
port
A port is a maritime facility comprising one or more wharves or loading areas, where ships load and discharge cargo and passengers. Although usually situated on a sea coast or estuary, ports can also be found far inland, such as Ham ...
s and
shipping
Freight transport, also referred as ''Freight Forwarding'', is the physical process of transporting Commodity, commodities and merchandise goods and cargo. The term shipping originally referred to transport by sea but in American English, it h ...
industry
* safety of all vessels navigating the ports of entry
* regulation of tariffs on goods passing through the public wharves.
Ports controlled
The primary ports for which it is responsible include:
;In Kingston
*Kingston Container Terminal
*North Terminal
*South Terminal (Gordon Cay)
*West Terminal
*Fifth Terminal
;Elsewhere
*Lucea
*Montego Bay
*Ocho Rios
*Port Antonio
*Port Esquivel
*Port Kaiser
*Port Rhoades
*Rio Bueno
*Rocky Point
*Falmouth
History
The Port Authority was established as a statutory corporation under the Port Authority Act, 1972.
A Commercial Free Zone and Distribution Hub for the Americas is currently under development.
Since 2008, the Port of Kingston has begun expansions to improve its facilities in response to the Panama Canal Expansion. Ultimately, Jamaica hopes to become the main transshipment hub in the Western Hemisphere and become a developed nation.
The Port Authority recently opened a new port for cruise ships in Falmouth, Trelawny. The new Falmouth, Jamaica Port of call is home to many merchants and cruise lines like
Royal Caribbean allowing many tourists to enjoy the port and surrounding natural beauty of Jamaica. The Port Authority also invited Air Ambulance Jamaica to monitor and provide emergency services to any tourist or local with any medical condition.
See also
*
Kingston Harbour
Kingston Harbour in Jamaica is the seventh-largest natural harbour in the world. It is an almost landlocked area of water approximately long by wide. Most of it is deep enough to accommodate large ships, even close to shore. It is bordered to th ...
References
External links
Port Authority of JamaicaMinistry of Transport and Works
{{authority control
Water transport in Jamaica
Ministries and agencies of the government of Jamaica
Port authorities
Government agencies established in 1972