PHILIPSBURG:--- After reports that CMA CGM, a leading ocean freight company, decided to re-route its transshipment operations from Pointe Blanche to Guadeloupe, Minister Grisha Heyliger-Marten took action.
During her official trip to a yachting conference in Monaco, the St. Maarten government minister met with Jean-Baptiste Lumineau, Director of Finance and Infrastructure, at the company’s headquarters in France. They discussed the recent changes and how they might impact St. Maarten.
The CMA CGM decision was taken to comply with regulations of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) that require all transatlantic vessels to switch to using Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) as a means of lowering their carbon emissions.
The port at Pointe Blanche is not deep enough to accommodate the LNG-powered vessels. The re-routing is expected to affect food wholesaler, Super U in Marigot, more than those in the southern half of the island because they depend on shipping primarily from the US.
Lumineau explained that Kingston, Jamaica, serves as the primary feeder for his company for all the Caribbean region, but certain assets in Guadeloupe make the latter a strategic point, particularly for handling agricultural products and exports.
For her part, Minister Heyliger-Marten and her delegation, which included Port St. Maarten Group of Companies’ CEO, Alex Gumbs, her Chef de Cabinet, Regina Labega, and Earl Wyatt of Seagrapes, highlighted opportunities for future collaboration between St. Maarten and CMA-CGM and pointed to potential areas for partnership and development.
The discussions also touched on CMA CGM’s focus on agriculture-related assets in Guadeloupe, and expanded export activities given the depth of their pier. This was identified as a significant area of growth that could benefit both the company and St. Maarten.
“We had a frank exchange of valuable information,” Heyliger-Marten said. She explained that CMA CGM provided clarity on their operational strategy in the region, while she and her delegation emphasized the importance of maintaining open communication and exploring new opportunities for partnership given the evolving transshipment landscape.
Specifically, CMA CGM and Port St. Maarten agreed to evaluate the cargo volumes moving into the Eastern Caribbean region with the aim of determining if the volume justifies establishing or enhancing a feeder service.
Both parties will assess the commercial viability of these operations, particularly from a feeder perspective, to optimize regional shipping routes and service efficiency from Port St. Maarten.
Port St. Maarten Group of Companies further outlined its strategic objectives and the specific opportunities it is seeking in terms of collaboration with CMA CGM. This includes not only operational partnerships but also potential areas for investment that could further strengthen the port’s capacity and service offerings in the region.
“Our meeting set the foundation for a comprehensive review of opportunities between the Government of St. Maarten, Port St. Maarten Group of Companies, and CMA CGM,” Heyliger-Marten said.
“All parties will continue to work closely on evaluating cargo volumes, forecasting future trends, exploring bunkering collaboration, and identifying areas for potential investment,” said the TEATT minister.
