Barbados Port Inc. – CIP Secretariat: Establishment of a Barbados Port Community System

Barbados Port Inc. (BPI), Member of the CIP Executive Board, is undertaking a project to develop a Port Community System (PCS) to further streamline various business processes and digitalize port operations. A PCS is a neutral and open electronic platform enabling intelligent and secure exchange of information between public and private stakeholders, to manage, automate, and optimize a port’s logistics processes and connect transport and logistics chains of its community.

In this context, BPI has engaged the CIP Secretariat, financed by the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), in a technical assistance project in the context of the Establishment of a Barbados Port Community System. Launched in June 2021, the 18-month engagement informs and guides the establishment of the Barbados PCS. To this end, the CIP Secretariat, through coordinating a team of experts, is conducting a logistics and international supply chain-related assessment and producing an implementation roadmap with a set of legal, operational, and financial recommendations, among others, for the development and implementation of the national PCS. The BPI-CDB-CIP Secretariat collaboration will also inform the development of cybersecurity requirements for PCS stakeholders.

Key achievements to date:

• Produced a Situation Analysis Report that describes, analyses, and identifies the logistics and international supply chain-related activities at the Port in collaboration with the relevant regulatory authorities and private-sector stakeholders
• Conducted two (2) Stakeholder Awareness Sessions (online and in-person) with over 90 participants to provide a general overview of the functions, scope, and organization of the PCS, bring together the community around the port to foster communication, as well as address the main aspects of cyber-resilient PCS implementation
• Conducted a technical In-Country Mission to refine the understanding of security processes at the Port of Bridgetown, specific cargo processes, current and planned digital systems, current and emerging legislative and regulatory frameworks, and current and planned cybersecurity capabilities, among others
• Produced an Implementation Roadmap with recommendations for a prioritized, phased implementation of PCS modules in maritime and vessel services, cargo services, and other services on a Now-Next-Later model; prioritized cybersecurity recommendations, as well as critical yet pending prerequisites to a successful PCS implementation