company, while Jamaica Freight would be the active company with agency business,” Johnston clarifies. This structure allows Jamaica Freight to focus on its core competency: full-service shipping agency operations serving both transshipment and domestic markets. Hamilton emphasizes the distinction regarding the dry dock operations: “The dry dock actually falls under Jamaica Fruit and Shipping and different shareholders. What Jamaica Freight and Shipping would do at the dry dock is offer shipping services or husbandry services to vessels that use the services of the dry dock.” This complementary relationship exemplifies how family businesses can maintain governance while pursuing specialized market opportunities. FULL-SERVICE SHIPPING OPERATIONS Jamaica Freight and Shipping’s portfolio reveals the scope of modern Caribbean logistics operations. “We represent main carriers like Costco Shipping, OOCL, which is Orient Overseas Container Lines, MOL, Al Aligners, and we also have the NVOCC JP Logistics Solutions,” Hamilton details. JP Logistics recently rebranded to incorporate JP Shipping in the UK and Miami Freight and Shipping in the US, highlighting the interconnected nature of global shipping networks. The company’s strategic positioning extends beyond carrier representation.“We are exclusive port agents at Port Esquivel, which is the port of UC RUSAL—a partnership between the Jamaican government and UC RUSAL,” Hamilton explains.“We are also exclusive agents at Bowden Wharf.They’re not very active right now, but that was a big port area for the export of bananas.” Port Esquivel’s significance has grown as Jamaica handles increasing volumes of bulk cargo, including alumina exports that resumed in recent years. The facility complements Kingston’s container operations, where 2,530 vessels move through annually, handling 16.2 million tons of cargo. Hamilton sees opportunity in this diversification: “We’re looking to see how we can target more of that kind of business,” she says, referring to break bulk operations at Port Esquivel. 18 BUSINESS VIEW CARIBBEAN VOLUME 12, ISSUE 06
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