Bridgetown, Barbados – The Barbados Port Incorporated (BPI) is grappling with severe congestion due to a backlog of nearly 500 vehicles, some of which have been sitting at the port for months. BPI Chief Executive Officer, Dr. David Jean-Marie, addressed the crisis at a press conference this morning, revealing that a physical count on Monday, February 10th, tallied 469 vehicles and 28 vehicle shells, with another 15 vehicles under Customs review.
This backlog is severely disrupting port operations. Dr. Jean-Marie explained that the vehicles are occupying space designated for containers, forcing the port to stack containers three and four high. This makes retrieving specific containers a complex and time-consuming process, impacting the movement of both full and empty containers.
The situation is expected to worsen as 842 more vehicles are slated to arrive within the next five days. The first shipment, arriving on February 13th, will bring 150 vehicles, 42 of which are destined for transshipment to Grenada. A second shipment on February 15th will contain 98 vehicles, and a third, arriving by February 17th, is projected to deliver a staggering 594 vehicles.
Dr. Jean-Marie is urgently appealing to consignees to expedite the clearance and collection of their vehicles. He reminded importers of their responsibility to submit the necessary documentation, obtain delivery orders from agents, secure release documents from Customs and other regulatory bodies, settle financial obligations to the port, and finally, take delivery of their cargo.
Adding to the urgency, Owen Holder, Controller of Customs, announced that vehicles remaining unclaimed will be auctioned off in accordance with the law. Public notification of these auctions will be provided. Holder emphasized that the extended time vehicles remain at the port prevents the collection of crucial revenue. He cited the 14-day clearance window for goods arriving by sea, after which, by law, unclaimed goods are subject to auction. While Customs is currently in discussion with importers regarding a small number of vehicles, aiming to reach an agreement, all other vehicles will be subject to the auction process.