Cruise Lines Cross Swords with Pier Owner in Jamaica

The cruise industry is at odds with commercial shipping interests in Ocho Rios, Jamaica, over the expansion of Reynolds Pier.

According to a Jamaica Gleaner report, cruise line officials want the pier designated for cruise ship activity only, saying that Jamaica will lose over 200 calls and an estimated $5 billion this year, due to cruise ships not being able to use the port because of commercial shipping activity. The Gleaner also reported that the cruise lines have offered to be a partner in the expansion project.

However, the pier is owned by Jamaica Bauxite Mining, which said it would welcome the expansion of the facility “only if cruise shipping can coexist with other commercial activities,” the Gleaner reported. Currently, Reynolds Pier is a multipurpose port that is used by commercial import and export vessels.

“We have told the Port Authority in all the meetings we have had that we are not against expanding the Reynolds Pier to accommodate more cruise ships,” said a JBM official in the Gleaner’s report. “The problem is that the tourism people want to have the facility for cruise shipping only, and this the JBM cannot do. It has to be done where we continue to export sugar and limestone from the facility, alongside cruise shipping. Either that or they find somewhere else to build a new facility.”

The paper reported that each cruise ship carries an average of 3,000 passengers and that the government gets $15 head tax for each person. JBM said that it has long-standing contracts and needs the facility to export sugar and limestone.