Dear Editor,

The Port of Authority of Jamaica (PAJ) wishes to reference the Jamaica Observer article ‘JET calls for more info on Port Royal cruise ship pier’, dated Monday, February 11, 2019, and notes the concerns expressed by the Jamaica Environment Trust (JET). We seek to clarify information published in the article in relation to the Port Royal cruise ship port development.

Given the historical, ecological and environmental importance of Port Royal, a co-management approach is being taken towards its development, which involves input from all key stakeholder groups, including Government of Jamaica ministries, departments and agencies, academia, and representatives from the Port Royal community. This multi-stakeholder collaborative effort sees various agencies taking the lead on specific components of the development project.

All development projects undertaken by the PAJ are done in accordance with guidelines outlined in the National Development Vision 2030, which stipulates environmental, social and economic goals for Jamaica. For the past three years the PAJ has actively explored the best approach to bring cruise shipping to Kingston.

The PAJ identified SeaWalk®, a recently developed technology for berthing large cruise vessels in similarly sensitive ecological environments. SeaWalk® is a floating articulating pier that is motorised and under electronic control, which unfolds to meet a ship which is anchored in a stationary position off the shore. The technology facilitates the berthing of vessels in Port Royal without dredging and extensive infrastructural works typically required to construct a conventional berthing system. Geirangerfjord in Norway, a UNESCO World Heritage Site which also uses a SeaWalk® and is recognised by UNESCO for its outstanding focus on environmental protection, has a population of 250 and sees approximately 5,000 visitors daily. Galapagos Islands off Ecuador’s mainland and Machu Picchu in Peru, areas with similar environmental sensitivities as Port Royal, receive approximately 220,000 and one million visitors annually, respectively.

The government regulatory entities tasked with overseeing the cultural and natural resources, planning and development, including transportation, have been integral to the Port Royal Development and have been providing guidance on the legislative and development requirements. The Jamaica National Heritage Trust has cleared the cultural and archaeological issues in guiding the development. The National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) has mandated the completion of an environmental impact assessment (EIA), while the Urban Development Corporation and the PAJ have been consulting on select planning issues.

In respect of the overall project, the EIA is currently underway, which mandates additional public consultations and stakeholder sensitisations. The PAJ will amend the project scope in accordance with the results of the EIA. The PAJ has given keen attention to the preservation of Port Royal and has actively participated in a number of meetings with members of the Port Royal community, Jamaica Defence Coast Guard, Caribbean Maritime University, and representatives from the UWI Port Royal Marine Laboratory, since March 2018, to introduce and create awareness about the plans for the development of a cruise port.

The proposed site for the cruise terminal, Old Coal Wharf, was selected based on a number of factors, including its previous use as a port from the 1800’s, where the British Navy used it as a port for offloading coal for storage to recent times for docking and storage of aggregates for the expansion of the runway at Norman Manley International Airport. It is also a safe distance from the sensitive areas such as the Sunken City and historical town centre.

Its previous use as a port provides the ideal characteristics and adequate depth so there is no need for dredging. It has the requisite land space to conduct cruise operations, including the dispatching of both water and land-based excursion tours without entering the town centre.

The PAJ recently obtained approval for a beach licence from the National Resource Conservation Authority/NEPA, subject to conditions for the installation of the SeaWalk®. We are currently in the process of fulfilling those conditionalities, which will be done prior to the installation.

On a typical cruise call, passengers are dispersed to a number of locations. A similar situation is anticipated. Thus, it is expected that only a fraction of the visitors will remain in the town and the existing and upgraded infrastructure within the port facilities and the township should be able to accommodate them. Notwithstanding, a detailed carrying capacity study will be undertaken as part of the development.

Kimberley Stiff

Assistant vice-president – marketing communications

The Port Authority

kstiff@portjam.com