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Last Updated: Feb 13, 2017 - 1:45:37 AM |
Pictured: Chief Executive Officer, Mike Maura of Arawak Port Development Limited and Cuban Ambassador Ernesto Soberon Guzman.
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Nassau, Bahamas - His Excellency Ernesto Soberón Guzmán, Ambassador to The Bahamas from the Republic of Cuba, paid a visit to Nassau Container Port recently at the invitation of APD Ltd, owner and operator of the Port.
Ambassador Guzmán spoke of the visit and the NCP in highly complimentary terms, “I am very grateful to you for all your attentions and for the recent tour of the Port of Nassau. It really impacted me to see the results of the work done by the APD in favor of the development of The Bahamas, especially of Nassau and its people.
According to Mike Maura, Jr, President & CEO, APD Ltd, Maritime transportation was the subject of the visit.
“We were very pleased that Señor Guzmán accepted our invitation to visit Nassau Container Port. Maritime transportation was quite naturally the subject of our conversation. NCP is approaching its third anniversary and has accomplished much in a very short time as evidenced by the #1 ranking in Port Efficiency from the Florida Shipowners Group. The Republic of Cuba shares our dependence on maritime transportation and is currently developing Mariel on their country’s north coast as a cargo port exclusively. The Port of Havana will be dedicated to the tourism cruise trade. This complete separation of cargo and passenger shipping is what we have been lobbying government for. In November 2014 the relocation of the bulk vehicle carriers from Prince George Wharf to NCP completed the separation,” Mr Maura said.
Pictured: Chief Executive Officer of Arawak Port Development Limited giving Cuban Ambassador Ernesto Soberon Guzman a tour of the Port.
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Mr Maura said further, “With the apparent relaxing relations between the United States and Cuba, APD sees the potential for increased trade with the latter. Furthermore, The Hon. Khaalis Rolle, Minister of State for Investments, has stated, “The Bahamas looks forward to increased trade between The Bahamas and Cuba and supports efforts to establish appropriate maritime transport linkages between our two countries.”
It is noteworthy that the principal shippers to Nassau, MSC and Tropical are appreciative of the Cuba/Bahamas trade potential and have already established links with Cuba. MSC’s Geneva headquarters released the following statement:
“MSC remains committed to the development of Cuba and The Bahamas offering a weekly service from Port Havana to Freeport, Bahamas. From Freeport, MSC serves the Nassau market with an arrival every Monday.”
The administration of Tropical Shipping noted: “Tropical Shipping looks forward to the day that Cuba’s private businesses and investors can participate in trading with the USA similar to all other Caribbean countries. At a future date, Tropical Shipping hopes that these businesses and our many Bahamian customers will also be able to utilize Tropical Shipping’s personalized quality service between Cuba and the Bahamas.”
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