The arrival of two Super Post-Panamax cranes on October 6, 2025 confirms Kingston Freeport Terminal Limited ‘s ambition to make Jamaica one of the most efficient logistics hubs in the region. Long-awaited, this delivery is the culmination of the US$50 million investment program launched in 2024 to modernize the terminal’s infrastructure and boost its competitiveness with the hemisphere’s major ports.
An industrial turning point for Jamaica
Since the signing of the concession in 2016 between the Jamaican State and the French group CMA CGM, Kingston Freeport Terminal Limited has led an in-depth transformation of the port. More than $450 million has been mobilized to dredge the channel to 14.5 meters, rehabilitate quays and modernize operating systems.
These investments have enabled Kingston to rank 81ᵉ worldwide in the
Lloyd’s List 2023
with annual traffic exceeding 2.3 million TEUs. This result, the fruit of an efficient public-private model, confirms the Jamaican port’s place among the Caribbean’s most efficient maritime infrastructures.
Equipment adapted to the giants of the seas
The two new Ship-to-Shore cranes delivered to Kingston Freeport Terminal Limited stand 52 metres high and have a reach of 60 metres, enough to handle up to 22 rows of containers. The Chinese-designed cranes are designed to operate Neopanamax vessels transiting the enlarged Panama Canal.
They join the four cranes already in service since 2017, bringing the total number of Super Post-Panamax at the terminal to six. Their arrival significantly increases handling capacity and reduces turnaround times for stopovers. Integrated differential GPS guidance and automated control systems enhance precision and safety, while reducing maintenance costs.
A decisive geographical position
Jamaica has a unique geographical advantage that Kingston Freeport Terminal Limited takes full advantage of. Located at the intersection of the North-South and East-West shipping lanes, the port is two days from the Panama Canal and a further two days from Miami. This configuration enables it to play a natural interface role between continents, and to become an essential transshipment point for inter-American trade.
Since 2016, freight volume handled in Kingston has increased by over 50%, illustrating the effectiveness of the expansion strategy and the growing confidence of international shipping lines.
The Westlands project: a strategic extension
The terminal’s expansion is accompanied by the launch of the Westlands project, led by Kingston Freeport Terminal Limited in partnership with the Port Authority of Jamaica. Worth $80 million, this project aims to extend the port’s surface area by 15 hectares and add 600,000 TEU of annual capacity.
This expansion, which includes an automated gate and a redesigned traffic system, will bring the terminal’s total capacity to 3.6 million TEUs. It will enable the terminal to accommodate more scheduled lines and improve the fluidity of land-based operations, a key asset for the Caribbean transit trade.
Ongoing technological modernization
Kingston Freeport Terminal Limited’s investment goes beyond heavy engineering. It includes a complete digital upgrade: deployment of a Nokia pLTE network for internal communications, updating of the Navis N4 system, and integration of high-precision differential geopositioning.
The aim is to optimize each stage of the logistics cycle: planning, handling, storage and shipping. These developments are in line with the CMA CGM Group’s strategy of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, with priority given to reducing emissions and improving the energy efficiency of equipment.
Economic benefits and skills development
Kingston Freeport Terminal Limited’s impact extends far beyond the perimeter of the port. Since 2016, the company has created over 500 skilled jobs, bringing its workforce to around 1,400. Jamaican operators now benefit from international training and take part in exchange programs, notably at the Port of Lekki in Nigeria.
This increase in skills, combined with a preventive maintenance rate in excess of 97%, demonstrates the ongoing professionalization of our teams and the solidity of the technical model we have put in place.
