Business View Caribbean - October 2015 37
ing the goods. According to the Federation of National
Associations of Ship Brokers and Agents, a shipping
agency acts as the principal’s local representative.
And, as such, it must be “fully conversant with all the
appropriate regulations and requirements relating to
the port in which it operates, have a wide range of rel-
evant contacts, and be sufficiently well-established to
be able to provide the level of service and support the
principal needs. The port agent is central to all trades
and is responsible for organizing, overseeing, and co-
ordinating all aspects of the port call, from booking
berth allocations and services ahead of the vessel’s
arrival to finalizing the accounts and other paperwork
after the vessel has sailed.”
Since the agent is the one who hires the stevedoring
services, among other responsibilities, in becoming a
shipping agency, Maritime & Transport now could pull
double-duty and more. “That way, they added value
to the principal by becoming a key service provider,”
explains Clarke. That evolutionary dynamic has per-
sisted to this day. “We’ve continued along that same
line of diversifying and going through the cargo chain,”
he adds. In fact, over the years, MTS has expanded its
services across the shipping sector, proving that when
it comes to the maritime industry in Jamaica, there is
AT A GLANCE
WHO:
Maritime & Transport Services, Ltd.
WHAT:
Provider of services for the shipping in-
dustry
WHERE:
Headquarters in Kingston, Jamaica
WEBSITE
:
KIM CLARKE - CHAIRMAN & MANAGING DIRECTOR
