The Antigua and Barbuda Port Authority has marked a groundbreaking new milestone in maritime operations, pulling off the unprecedented simultaneous discharge of five cargo vessels at the Port of St. John’s on June 1. Port officials frame the achievement as clear proof of the enhanced flexibility and efficiency delivered by the country’s recent port infrastructure upgrades. According to General Manager Darwin Telemaque, this historic operation would not have been possible without close, seamless coordination across port staff, customs authorities, shipping agents and a range of other industry stakeholders. “Five cargo ships discharging simultaneously is a remarkable achievement and reflects the coordinated effort of our entire port community,” Telemaque stated in a press briefing following the operation. The simultaneous berthing was made possible by a strategic adaptive adjustment: leveraging unused cruise ship berths at Heritage Quay during the cruise industry’s annual off-season. This creative reallocation of space allowed specialized yacht carriers to dock and commence unloading immediately, while standard container operations continued uninterrupted at the port’s dedicated container terminals. Telemaque explained that this flexible arrangement eliminates the long waiting periods vessels previously faced anchored offshore, when they had to queue for available space at the congested container terminal. The targeted adjustment grew out of direct discussions with Sevenstar Yacht Transport, one of the world’s largest yacht shipping firms. The company had indicated it would increase the number of calls to Antigua and Barbuda if the port could offer expanded berthing flexibility during periods of low cruise traffic. Prior to this new policy, Telemaque noted, yacht carriers were routinely forced to wait one to two days anchored outside the harbor before a berth became available for unloading. “This is one of the creative adjustments we have made to improve service delivery and maximize the use of our existing infrastructure,” Telemaque said of the new berthing strategy. Beyond the single day’s operational achievement, Telemaque emphasized that the successful simultaneous discharge demonstrates the tangible benefits of the port’s ongoing modernization program, and strengthens Antigua and Barbuda’s competitive standing in the Caribbean regional maritime sector. Port Authority data shows the facility already welcomed a record 49 yacht carrier calls in 2025, a figure that dramatically outpaces the historical annual average of roughly 18 visits. Looking forward, official projections indicate annual yacht carrier calls could climb even further, to a range of 70 to 80 vessels in coming years. “We continue to strive, we continue to advance, and we remain committed to improving berth utilization, service quality, and operational efficiency,” Telemaque said. He extended credit to frontline port employees and cross-sector industry partners for their collaborative work to deliver the milestone, framing the achievement as another critical step forward in the country’s goal to establish itself as a leading regional maritime hub in the Caribbean.
Port Authority Sets Record With Five Cargo Ships Discharging Simultaneously
