Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), Arsenio Dominguez, has hailed Jamaica’s remarkable progress in maritime education, port development and sustainable shipping as a global model for maritime excellence.
Speaking at a Think Tank hosted by the Jamaica Information Service (JIS) on Thursday, Dominguez said he was impressed by the country’s strategic vision and commitment to expanding its maritime sector.
The Secretary-General visited the Caribbean Maritime University (CMU), the nation’s major port facilities and key maritime stakeholders.
He highlighted that he was encouraged by what he observed.
‘I had a great experience visiting the Caribbean Maritime University, particularly because I saw the evolution of a training institution that started by educating seafarers in deck and engine operations,’ he said.
‘It has evolved into a regional, high-class model of a training centre with a much wider range of programmes for young people entering the maritime sector. Beyond engineering, the University now offers studies in logistics, trade and emerging technologies such as biotechnology.’
The Secretary-General argued that much more research input is needed in this area, ‘particularly from Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and Least Developed Countries, to support the regulatory work of the IMO.
The Secretary-General also commended the University’s leadership for its investments in modern learning facilities.
‘I was impressed by the programmes and the proactive and dynamic leadership of the institution. I want to encourage everyone to appreciate the strides that have been made in improving the quality of education and services. The high-technology laboratories I saw are facilities I have not seen in many countries around the world, and students should take full advantage of them,’ he said.
He pointed out that Jamaica’s maritime advancement is being driven by strong collaboration among national institutions.
‘The Maritime University cannot work in isolation, and this is where I see further leadership. Jamaica is effectively expanding its maritime domain through the efforts of the Government, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade and the Maritime Authority of Jamaica,’ he noted.
During his visit, the Secretary-General toured Kingston’s container and multi-purpose terminals, where he observed significant investments in expansion, automation and decarbonisation.
‘I had the opportunity to visit the two terminal ports in Kingston and experience first-hand how they are preparing for increased trade, which will continue to support Jamaica’s economy. I was equally impressed by the steps they are taking to decarbonise their operations and automate the services they provide.’
He also pointed to the rapid growth in port activity as evidence of Jamaica’s expanding role in international shipping and noted that Jamaica’s container terminal recorded its busiest year on record in 2025, handling approximately 2.2 million containers, with plans already under way to increase capacity to accommodate more than three million containers annually.
Describing shipping as central to Jamaica’s economy, Dominguez said the country has demonstrated a clear commitment to strengthening the sector.
‘Jamaica’s leadership, from the very top, has demonstrated its commitment to implementing IMO regulations while taking advantage of the opportunities available to strengthen the maritime sector.’
The Secretary-General added that Jamaica continues to learn from others through IMO-supported projects and is on a trajectory to become a global role model in the maritime sector.