The Cayman Islands Government has allocated CI $8 million to upgrade cargo infrastructure at the existing Port of George Town - a central hub in Cayman’s supply chain.

The funding was endorsed by Members of Parliament during a Finance Committee session on 30 June and is part of a wider CI $134 million additional budget package.

Officials say work to expand the port will ease capacity pressures and keep cargo operations running while longer-term plans are developed.

Funding to tackle immediate port pressures

The government says CI $5 million of the allocation will be set aside to buy land in Grand Cayman and Little Cayman, including around the Cargo Distribution Centre on Portland Drive, where space is already under strain.

The remaining funds will go toward vehicles and equipment for the Port Authority.

Minister for Planning, Lands, Agriculture, Housing and Infrastructure, Jay Ebanks MP says some of the machinery currently used to unload cargo vessels is "not fit for purpose", citing operational inefficiencies and compliance issues raised in recent audits.

The spending approval comes as officials say the harbour is almost at capacity and requiring short-term upgrades to maintain service.

Port officials are considering land reclamation and an expansion of logistics areas inland as possible ways to create more room for storage and handling at the current harbour site. 

Mr Ebanks has previously said that expansion at the existing harbour is meant to "buy time" to keep cargo operations moving while the Government weighs the cost and scale of any major future redevelopment.

The immediate works are also expected to support compliance with maritime standards ahead of future audits and in anticipation of a new Port Authority Act. Officials say better equipment and improved working practices will help the port meet the requirements placed on a modern cargo facility.

Business case to examine sediment removal

Alongside the approved funding, the Government said it is preparing to commission a business case study on harbour clean-up work.

The proposal raises immediate questions about what the study would test, how its findings used, and whether comparisons will be made with any wider redevelopment options.

The study is expected to be put out to tender before the end of 2026 and will assess sediment removal and how much sand could be extracted from the site.

The business case is also expected to help shape wider redevelopment ideas, including possible pier extensions and reclaimed land.

But officials say the details of the scope and timeline for that work are yet to be finalised.

If the study leads to further work, it could influence how the harbour site is used in the years ahead. This would matter not only for port operations, but also for the businesses and households that depend on a steady flow of imported goods through Cayman’s cargo network.

Breakers remains the long-term option

A Strategic Outline Case previously identified Breakers, in the Bodden Town district, as the preferred site for a new port.

That project, however, is expected to take several years and could cost more than CI $400 million.

For now, the Government’s priority is to keep the current cargo port operating.