The publication assesses the situation of the maritime sector in CARICOM (a “conglomerate” of states that have comparable historical development paths of colonial dependency) and presents a series of new observations and issues. Challenges and barriers in the maritime sector, or problems created through inefficiencies in the maritime sector are analyzed for: maritime freight transport, cruise shipping, ports and yachting. The study describes the characteristics of the maritime sector in CARICOM countries, discusses influencing factors on freight rates in the Caribbean, identifies bottlenecks to competitiveness, and provides responses to the bottlenecks.

Port Economics, Management and Policy provides a comprehensive analysis of the contemporary port industry, showing how ports are organized to serve the global economy and support regional and local development. Structured in eight sections plus an introduction and epilog, this textbook examines a wide range of seaport topics, covering maritime shipping and international trade, port terminals, port governance, port competition, port policy and much more. Key features of the book include: Multidisciplinary perspective, drawing on economics, geography, management science and engineering Multisector analysis including containers, bulk, break-bulk and the cruise industry Focus on the latest industry trends, such as supply chain management, automation, digitalization and sustainability Benefitting from the authors’ extensive involvement in shaping the port sector across five continents, this text provides students and scholars with a valuable resource on ports and maritime transport systems. Practitioners and policymakers can also use this as an essential guide towards better port management and governance.

This book explores the lessons learned from half a century of Caribbean cruise tourism; one of the most popular and profitable sectors of the tourism industry. The modern-day cruise industry dates from the 1960s when the three major cruise lines, Carnival, Royal Caribbean, and Norwegian, set up shop in Florida and began selling winter cruises to the Caribbean targeting American retirees. For geopolitical reasons, the US initially excluded cruises to Cuba. This changed in 2016, following the historic Obama-Castro agreement to move towards diplomatic, trade and travel normalization. Cuba quickly became the Caribbean’s fastest growing cruise destination. This book considers the limited economic benefits of cruise tourism, its environmental and social impacts, and the effects of climate change, and "overtourism." Based on this analysis and case studies of key Caribbean and Mediterranean destinations, this book cautions against overdependence on cruise tourism and outlines reforms needed to bring more benefits and equity to Caribbean countries. It will be valuable to professionals, businesses, development agencies, NGOs, and academics interested in a sustainable cruise industry and the economic well-being of Caribbean island nations.

The organization of production processes into a chain of production stages that could be located in different countries, each of which provide a unique advantage, has become a defining characteristic of international trade. Industrial development, the movement of intermediate products, and the trading of final goods and services are inextricably linked to global value chains. Global value chain analysis is useful in providing a comprehensive overview of an entire industry, identifying an individual firm or country’s position in the global value chain, and mapping how the firm or country may upgrade to capture more value along this value chain. This book presents various case studies which analyse some of the prevalent constraints experienced in industries of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) member states. In addition, it identifies practical policy recommendations which can be used to address such challenges, and allow the member states to capture more value from their industries’ global value chains. It addresses issues such as the declining preferences in agriculture value chains, the feasibility of enhancing the economic contribution of the maritime industry, the urgency for climate-resilient strategies in the banana industry, and the need for local content policy to create an appropriate framework to capture a fair share of value from the hydrocarbon industry. Given the persistence of challenges, the lack of upgrading, and the dearth of research conducted on value chains in the CARICOM region, this book can serve as a basis upon which governments and regional organizations may adopt policy recommendations to address trade and investment-related challenges, and increase the member states’ effective participation in international trade.

In the Historical Dictionary of the U.S. Maritime Industry, author Kenneth J. Blume provides a convenient survey of this important industry from the colonial period to the present day: from sail to steam to nuclear power. This concise new reference work captures the key features of overseas, coastal, lake, and river shipping and industry. An introduction provides an overview of the industry while the dictionary itself contains more than four hundred cross-referenced entries on ships, shipping companies, famous personalities, and major ports. A number of appendixes, including statistics on foreign trade, maritime disasters, famous ships, and major ports, supplement the dictionary, and a comprehensive bibliography leads the researcher to further sources.

As the international economy globalises, there is a need for national infrastructure systems to adapt to form a global infrastructure system. This network of networks aids mobility between national systems as a means of supporting their territorial needs and preferences. This reflects a strategic approach to state infrastructuring as nations seek to utilise these physical systems to support and enhance their territoriality. Providing a thorough examination through the lens of economic infrastructure, the book addresses the forces of integration and fragmentation in global networks. This book explores the trend towards the development of regional infrastructure systems within the context of territorial strategy. Regional systems emerge out of states seeking to position themselves within the international system. Colin Turner identifies the diverse processes that are driving regional infrastructures, as well as examining the formal and informal patterns of integration that are shaping developments. This book is ideal for international political economy and regional development scholars who seek an advanced understanding of current regional infrastructure systems. It will also serve as a vital tool for practitioners who need to understand the implications for policy-making.