What Experts Say Caribbean Ports Must Do to Stay Secure

Diego Rodríguez Paez
Director of Logistics and Industry Practice
AMI

In an era marked by accelerating digital threats and geopolitical uncertainty, port security has become a defining challenge for the maritime sector, especially in the Caribbean. During a recent panel at the Caribbean Shipping Association (CSA) event, expert speakers tackled the evolving security dynamics facing regional ports.

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Regional Perspective: Security as a Prerequisite for Economic Stability 

Jorge Durán of the OAS emphasized that maritime security is not just about infrastructure—it underpins the entire region’s economic stability. He identified five layers of maritime security: 

1. Preventing illegal activity (arms, drugs, trafficking) 

2. Combating terrorism 

3. Protecting cargo and vessels 

4. Safeguarding human life 

5. Reducing international crime networks 

Through the Inter-American Committee on Ports (CIP), the OAS is training hundreds of professionals across the region, from janitors to CEOs, in holistic port security. Training is offered in multiple languages and hosted through the portal portalcip.org.

Key Insight:

You can invest millions in tech, but if your people aren’t trained to use it, it won’t matter.

Jorge Durán
Secretariat Chief
CIP

Leveraging Technology for Security Intelligence 

Rommel Edwards from Barbados Port Inc. demonstrated how technology is reshaping security operations. With over 300 surveillance cameras active across port areas, artificial intelligence (AI) now detects anomalies in behavior and flags them for security teams in real-time. 

Notable Initiatives: 

• Implementation of the Maritime Single Window (MSW), which digitizes clearances and integrates inputs from police, customs, and fire services. 
• Use of blockchain and AI to track vessel proximity anomalies and smuggling risks. 

Key Insight:

We’ve evolved beyond checklists—we’re now proactively identifying threats through behavioral analytics.

Rommel Edwards
Manager Digital Innovation and Development
Barbados Port Inc.

Cybersecurity is a Shared Responsibility

Mike Malito from Shoreline Hudson introduced PortLogix, a decision-support tool developed for small- and medium-sized ports. It helps executives assess cybersecurity maturity, prioritize investments, and respond to emerging threats. 

As ports adopt digital tools like Port Community Systems (PCS) and Mobile Shipyard Work (MSW), their vulnerability to cyberattacks increases. Shoreline is actively training ports to protect against phishing, ransomware, and state-sponsored threats. 

Key Insight:

Ports can no longer treat cybersecurity as an IT issue—it’s an existential business risk.

Mike Malito
Senior Cybersecurity Consultant
Shoreline Hudson

Top 5 Port Security Challenges in the Caribbean 

Based on a recent workshop conducted in St. Kitts with over 46 participants from 10 Caribbean states, Jorge Durán shared the region’s consensus on its top five security threats: 

1. Insider threats – from employees or contractors exploiting access. 

2. Stakeholder fragmentation – lack of coordination between public, private, and local actors. 

3. Cybersecurity vulnerabilities – exposed systems due to weak practices. 

4. Lack of best-practice adoption – from incident response to access controls. 

5. Training gaps – insufficient human capital to manage advanced systems. 

Key Insight:

Security must be integrated from the beginning—retrofitting it later is ineffective and costly.

Jorge Durán
Secretariat Chief
CIP

A Call for Continuous Education and Incident Reporting 

Glenn Wiltshire, Deputy Director of Port Everglades, highlighted that one of the most overlooked vulnerabilities is the lack of updated training and poor reporting culture. Many organizations still avoid disclosing cyber incidents due to reputational fears, which hinders knowledge sharing. 

The panel emphasized the importance of maintaining dynamic training programs that evolve in response to the ever-changing threat landscape. Reporting platforms should be transparent and protective of organizations’ reputations while ensuring lessons are learned across the region. Without a pipeline of well-trained professionals who understand digital risks, no investment in technology can protect port operations. Collaborations with schools, junior achievement programs, and digital skills initiatives are now being implemented to prepare the next generation of maritime professionals. 

Key Insight:

Cyber risks change yearly. If your training doesn’t evolve, your entire operation is exposed.

Glenn Wiltshire
Deputy Director
Port Everglades

Final Takeaway:

Security is Everyone’s Job

Port security is no longer a task for a single department or agency. It’s an all-hands-on-deck mission involving:

• AI-enabled monitoring systems 

• Regional coordination bodies like CIP and CSA 

• Shared cyber risk assessments 

• Training from entry-level staff to executive leadership 

• Inter-agency interoperability through MSW platforms 

• Ongoing education and community engagement 

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Diego Rodríguez Paez Senior Director of the Logistics Practice

Diego Rodríguez is the Director of the logistics and industrial practice at Americas Market Intelligence, handling dozens of market analysis and competitive intelligence studies throughout Latin America. He has also served as a consultant to more than 20 multinational companies.

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