Port Lafito Officially Opens

 

Port Lafito in Haiti officially opened on 2 July in a ceremony attended by the country’s president among other dignitaries.

 

“Port Lafito will breathe new life into Haiti by creating new jobs, training for skilled labor, and encouraging foreign investment and development. This project will make a significant impact on the national economy and have a beneficial impact on the more than 10 million people that live here,” said Reuven Bigio, CEO of GB Group. 

 

“We are proud to announce that the day has come where we can help bring Haiti to the forefront of modern logistics,” he added.

 

Port Lafito has partnered with SSA Marine – the world’s largest privately-held independent marine terminal operator – to oversee its operations, and installed two Liebherr LHM 420 mobile harbor cranes, the first of their kind in the region.

 

Evergreen and King Ocean Services have already agreed to make it a port of call. King Ocean sails to and from Florida and run a weekly service to Lafito.

 

The port is situated in a developing economic zone which will include an industrial free zone and a business park. It aims to be an industrial hub for the Caribbean.

 

It is situated 20km north of Port-au-Prince in the town of Lafiteau and is the deepest and largest port in Haiti with a draught of 12.5 m and a berth of 450 m in the first phase and 900 m in the second phase.