Kingston, Jamaica, 12 September 2026
Jamaica’s maritime regulator is preparing for a rise in shipping traffic and new marine-related businesses once the Caymanas Special Economic Zone is up and running, the head of the Maritime Authority of Jamaica (MAJ) has said.
Director General Bertrand Smith said the zone is expected to generate more demand for shipping and for a broad range of services connected to the sea, and that the Authority is working to make sure the country’s rules are ready for that growth.
Getting the rules ready
According to Mr Smith, the MAJ’s job is to keep Jamaica’s regulatory framework strong, efficient and in line with international standards, so that the industry can expand on a sustainable footing. The Authority says it continues to tighten the country’s compliance with international maritime conventions and to update its systems to match the changing demands of global shipping.
He stressed that the MAJ does not set national policy. That direction comes from its parent ministry, the Ministry of Energy, Transport and Telecommunications, along with other arms of government. The Authority’s role is to carry out that vision, and its remit also includes encouraging investment and trade by creating conditions in which maritime businesses can grow.
Part of the logistics hub ambition
Mr Smith described the Caymanas zone as one of several large projects expected to move Jamaica closer to its long-held aim of becoming a leading logistics centre for the region. He said the Authority intends to work alongside the ministry and other stakeholders to build a competitive maritime sector that supports trade and economic growth, while keeping Jamaica’s standing as a “respected and credible maritime nation”.
Why it matters beyond the ports
Special economic zones are designed to draw in investment, and growth in shipping and allied services can bring jobs and new businesses into the areas around them. For homeowners, landlords and would-be buyers, large industrial and logistics projects tend to influence where people want to live and work, as well as demand for rental housing, commercial space and supporting infrastructure such as roads.
How much of that materialises will depend on how quickly the zone comes on stream and how many businesses set up there. For now, the regulator’s message is that it intends to have the legal and technical groundwork in place before demand arrives, rather than playing catch-up afterwards.
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