MEMBERS OF the Montego Bay Port Community received good news last Thursday, as the Port Authority indicated that it would be spending upwards of $150 million to improve conditions at the port.
At a meeting with companies that operate in the shipping industry, staged by the Shipping Association of Jamaica to launch its Montego Bay Chapter, president and chief executive officer of the Port Authority, Noel Hylton, outlined some immediate plans for the second city's Port.
Plans include paving the terminal and upgrading the apron with an allocation of $70 million; dredging the channel at a cost of $80 million and the purchase of X-Ray equipment to improve security, forklifts for the warehouse operations, as well as an assessment of the type of lifting equipment which could be used to handle containers at that Port. Mr. Hylton, in a frank discussion with participants, noted the need for serious improvement at the Port, and highlighted discussions under way with Customs to have abandoned cargo in the warehouse removed, towards improving its storage capacity.
