The St. Vincent and the Grenadines Port Authority is a major artery of the maritime trade in St.
Vincent and the Grenadines and as such its structures and systems are designed to ensure the
approximately 90% of maritime trade undertaken by businesses is sufficiently supported and
facilitated. This undertaken is driven through its operations department that is equipped with a
diversity of cargo handling equipment, trained staff, cargo screening equipment and digitized
processes which are essential to drive its highly mechanized operation with coverage from wharf
to exit gate. Such critical equipment include but not limited to mobile harbour crane, forklift of
various sizes, yard tractors, container beds, reach stackers
The core services provided by the operations department are as follows:
Reception and delivery of cargo of all types – containerized, non – containerized general
break bulk,
storage of cargo awaiting delivery is part of our cargo management system and is
accommodated in covered warehouses or open storage areas while there is provision of
415 volts plug in facility for reefer containers;
Stuffing and unstuffing of containers;
Rental of cargo handling equipment, limited rental options for off compound;
Overtime services as per request
Central to the service delivery of the operation department is a Terminal Operating System
(TOS) which was added to enhance the quality and effectiveness of service provided to importers
and exporters. This TOS is suitable for small and medium – sized ports and was designed to
cover all processes associated with a vessel voyage to include pre-vessel arrival, electronic
upload of manifest, containing stripping and stuffing, cargo discharge and loading, cargo
management, yard planning, gate processes. Also, the TOS is equipment with an invoicing
module and vessel agent portal.
With the gains already made from implementing the TOS and in line with our strategic initiative
to fully automate our work processes further enhancement is inevitable in this regard. Such
advancement is critical to transform our business landscape and by extension bolster our
customer experience. Moreover, digitization and innovation are fast becoming the new normal in
business which we firmly embrace.
Apart from the human capital, infrastructure and superstructure are pillars which define ports and
their existence. These are very expensive capital investments at the time of construction which
need to have scheduled maintenance program as well as upgrades to ensure their reliability,
safety and life expectancy.
At SVGPA the responsibility for construction, maintenance and upgrade of its infrastructure and
superstructure are assigned to the maintenance department. This department comprised of two
units – mechanical and Civil and are structured with provision for trained and experienced
engineers and support staff to enable effective functioning of each unit. This responsibility is for
main port of entries on mainland St. Vincent and in the Grenadines.
The following is an un-exhaustive list of infrastructure and superstructure which falls under the
ambit of the maintenance department:
Maintenance of access channels and basins
Maintain wharves and jetties – including apron, mooring equipment and fenders
Install and maintain land and sea based navigational lights
Cargo handling equipment (ship-to-shore cranes, yard equipment, etc.)
Electric installations and wiring
Telecommunication installations and wiring
Paving of the terminal
Warehouses and technical buildings
Fencing and video surveillance (port security)
Entrance and egress gates
Office buildings
Most of the areas mentioned above fall within the control of Civil works unit as the mechanical
unit main responsible being for maintenance of cargo handling equipment.
Construction and maintenance of infrastructure and superstructure for which the maintenance
department lacks the capacity to execute is out sourced.