Port officials in Barbados and across the Americas must embrace artificial intelligence (AI) and digital transformation as critical tools in building more resilient, efficient and sustainable ports.
This word came from Minister of Tourism and International Transport, Ian Gooding-Edghill as he addressed delegates at the opening of the 14th Regular Meeting of the Inter-American Committee on Ports (CIP) at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre on Monday.
The meeting is being held under the theme The Scope of Artificial Intelligence: Reshaping Strategies for Sustainable and Secure Ports and has brought together port officials and stakeholders from across the Americas.
The minister stressed that modern maritime gateways are essential to the economic survival and security of small island states. He further added that the gathering comes at a crucial time as countries seek to strengthen their maritime infrastructure against growing global challenges.
“This meeting is one of fundamental importance, considering that our future depends in no small measure on the development of modern, resilient and well-governed maritime gateways.
“For small islands and coastal states in particular, ports are not peripheral assets; they serve as lifelines to sustain commerce, support tourism, and facilitate food and energy security,” Gooding-Edghill said.
He noted that ports also play a critical role in disaster response and recovery, making their continued development and modernisation a national and regional priority.
Turning to the conference theme, the minister said digitisation was no longer a choice for ports seeking to remain competitive in an increasingly interconnected world.
“Digitisation is no longer optional for ports seeking to remain competitive, efficient, secure and sustainable,” Gooding-Edghill told delegates.
He said artificial intelligence was creating new opportunities in areas such as cargo planning, safety and security, predictive maintenance and operational decision-making.
However, he cautioned that technology on its own would not guarantee success.
“The successful transformation of our port systems requires institutional readiness, sound governance, workforce development, and a clear commitment to ensuring that innovation remains people-centred and inclusive,” Gooding-Edghill said.
The minister urged regional leaders to work collaboratively to ensure that the benefits of technological advancement are shared equitably throughout the hemisphere.
“We have a shared responsibility to ensure that the benefits of these advances are distributed broadly and fairly across our hemisphere,” he said, while calling for stronger institutional capacity, improved policy frameworks and safeguards for trust, security and accountability.
He added that governments and industry stakeholders must ensure that workers and communities are not left behind as the sector evolves.
“If we proceed with foresight and cooperation, we can build port communities that are not only smarter, but also more resilient, more sustainable and more responsive to evolving needs,” Gooding Edghill said.
(SB)
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