Minister of Works and Infrastructure Jearlean John says the Government is working to revitalise all its marine facilities, including the Caribbean Dockyard and Engineering Services Limited (CARIDOC) and the Point Lisas Industrial Port Development Corporation (PLIPDECO).
As she addressed the Shipping Association of Trinidad and Tobago’s inaugural Shipping and Logistics Conference on Thursday, she highlighted the Government’s Revitalisation Blueprint, which includes the Ports of Port of Spain, Galeota, and Point Lisas.
The Minister also noted the Government’s plans to revamp the local marine sector, adding that there are issues with various marine acreages.
“In CARIDOC, we have a wasting opportunity to become a premium dry-docking hub, not only in CARIDOC, but LABIDCO, the Port of Port of Spain, as we are kind of positioning it. As Trinidad and Tobago is strategically well positioned, at CARIDOC, Berth Number 5 is 70 years old and still accommodating vessels well beyond its design capacity.”
Minister John highlighted the importance of the CARIDOC facility to the local economy.
“We are working to restore CARIDOC to operational readiness, as it is simply too costly and time-consuming to continue sending our vessels elsewhere, like overseas. At PLIPDECO, Berth 2 is crumbling, with its adjacent container yard degraded. At the Ministry, we are working with PLIPDECO to commence a very robust and ambitious upgrade and renovation project which starts in the final quarter of 2025. This is going to be big.”
The Works Minister also outlined the work which is underway at the Port of Point Lisas.
“At Point Lisas, the focus will be on strengthening the resilience and productivity of one of the country’s most important industrial ports. Our action plan includes, and there’s a lot of interest now in PLIPDECO, even as we speak. So the action plan includes capacity expansion and infrastructure modernisation, digital transformation and operational efficiency, proactive growth, business development, cargo growth and strategic partnership, logistics hub development and value-added services to evolve Point Lisas into a full-service logistics and free-zone destination.”
Minister John insisted that the sector’s infrastructure, regulatory and operational issues are solvable with sustained dialogue and practical collaboration between government, regulators, and industry stakeholders.
She also announced that the Government is working to update the Trinidad and Tobago Shipping Act of 1987.
“We’ll continue to strengthen governance and legislation framework that support maritime trade, including the reform of the Shipping Act and the development of the updated piloted regulations that reflect the complexity and safety requirements of our modern marine environment.”
Minister John noted that there have been proposed changes to the Act, but she insisted that this Government administration will do more than just discuss the Act.
“In December 2025, I wrote to the Honourable Attorney General to formally recommend that the Shipping Bill, which at this time is about 500 pages, be placed on the legislative agenda, recognising it as a critical piece of legislation for the advancement of Trinidad and Tobago’s maritime sector. I know that has been talked about for a long time, but we are making a push to ensure it gets back to the Parliament.”