St. Vincent and the Grenadines announces cruise port partnership and new port fees

The Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines is set to sign an agreement with Global Ports Holding (GPH) on October 26 to oversee cruise port operations and drive long-term sector development. This partnership aims to address infrastructure constraints that currently prevent the docking of XL-class cruise ships and manage capacity issues for larger vessels.

The move comes ahead of a projected surge in tourism, with the 2026–2027 season expected to see 355 cruise ship calls and 344,000 passengers, a 43% increase over previous years.

Separately, the Modern Port Operations Company (MPOC) has introduced new user fees for the destuffing and stuffing of Full Container Load (FCL) containers, effective October 1, 2026. The fee structure mandates a minimum charge of $300 per container for the first two hours, with subsequent hours billed at $200 per hour. While MPOC states the measure is intended to improve operational efficiency and safety, the additional costs may impact importers and retailers.