Caribe Connect targets interregional shipping

 


Barbados-based company Connect Caribe, as reported by news source News Day is looking to create an inter-island Caribbean ferry service by March 2025.  Its original launch date was August 2024, but the company said sourcing suitable vessels has been a challenge.

The company is a subsidiary of Pleion Group Inc. Barbados, with trading name Connect Caribe. According to News Day, it is targeting three vessels – an 800-passenger cruise ship, a 400-passenger fast ferry and a dedicated cargo vessel. The company's website says the first stage of its planned route includes Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St Lucia, St Kitts and Nevis, St Vincent and TT.

The shipper says on its website” We are a consortium company that was created to help solve the maritime transportation, trade, and commerce challenges affecting interregional trade between Caribbean nations. The members of our consortium are Upturn Funds Caribbean, Upturn Funds New York, Windward Ferries, Ramps Logistics, and Hinkson Computer Solutions Inc. “

Ceintelligence,com outlines how expensive maritime trade is for the Caribbean region, being higher than many other zones

“ Maritime transport is the primary mode of commercial transport for the Caribbean. For island States such as these, trade in goods is conducted either by air or by sea. However, from an economic standpoint, air transport is only feasible for certain types of products and, as such, maritime transport remains the sole mode of transport for most goods. From this, it can be concluded that Caribbean countries are more dependent on maritime transport than other regions. Most Caribbean countries export only a few commodities such as bananas, sugar or bauxite -- commodities for which a buyer can easily choose alternative sources of supplies. This means that countries in the region must accept prices determined by the international market for their export products

“High shipping costs will even impede trade of any commodity once a competing country can offer the same product, inclusive of transport costs, at a lower rate. Thus, the industries of a country with high shipping costs experiences difficulties in exporting their products.”

Ceintelligence.com outlines, “Moreover, any dollar spent to transport a commodity directly to the market reduces the income of the Caribbean exporter and, as a result, firms in such countries might be forced to pay lower wages to compensate for higher transport costs, in order to be able to compete on world markets. It also increases the price of imported consumer goods and commodities. Thus, the whole economy of a country would benefit from any savings that result from the lowering of the transport costs.”

“To be the leading provider of maritime travel, cargo service, agricultural transportation and commerce for the Caribbean, utilizing an approach that adds value to Caribbean people, our shareholders and investors.”

The website states that CC’s Cargo Division will be able to move light goods, ecommerce packages and agriculture produce across the region, plus heavy cargo on the main cargo route.

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