Turnel Shipping, Seaboard expand in MoBay
WHILE one of it major competitors went out of business last week, Seaboard Jamaica is planning to expand its operations with the addition of a 66,000 square foot bonded warehouse in the Montego Bay Free Zone on December 2.
Seaboard’s agents in the western city, Turnel Shipping Services, will run the warehouse which is expected to give Seaboard a foothold in the lucrative barrel shipment business.
“Undoubtedly, two of the fastest growing businesses in Jamaica are remittances and the barrel business. And we are entering that with vigour because we don’t want to be left out. We want to give you that,” promised head of Turnel and Custos of St James, Clarence Nelson.
He was speaking at Tuesday night’s annual cocktail party on-board one of Seaboard’s vessels.
In a later interview with the Observer, Nelson added that the new warehouse should help with the usual Christmas rush on the city’s wharves.
“Remember that backlog you always have here for Christmas, the confusion, that will be out as of this year, hopefully. We are hoping that we will be in time to clear that usual Christmas backlog and after that it will be a nice operation,” he said.
Seaboard ships goods between Montego Bay and Miami, and caters largely to the garment and commercial sectors.
“We already provide services twice a week, now we are going to the next step, we are going into warehousing,” Seaboard Marine’s vice president in charge of the Caribbean region, Tom Paelinck told the Observer.
He added that Seaboard now calls in Montego Bay on Tuesdays and Fridays and has developed a reputation for reliable service that has helped it stay in business over the last 15 years.
“Twice a week there is a direct connection from Miami to Montego Bay and from Montego Bay to Miami, and we are the only company that provides this service. And over the years we have been known for our consistency, always twice a week, always on time,” he said.
According to CEO for Seaboard Jamaica, Grantley Stephenson, their international arm, Seaboard Marine had recently added service from New York to Montego Bay. The new warehouse, he said, will be just another cog in the company’s commitment to providing quality service to its clients.
“We will have a warehouse that occupies about 66,000 square feet so we have adequate space and equipment and the service will be even better than Sandals or the Ritz Carlton provides,” he told clients with a chuckle during the cocktail party. “And you can hold us to that because that is our goal and we always honour whatever promises we make. So next year this time when we meet here again, you can judge for yourself.”