MTCC Caribbean’s Regional Workshop – joint event between the Global MTCC Network Phase II and GreenVoyage2050

Type of Activity: Regional Workshop

When: 28-29 January 2026

The MTCC Caribbean regional event held in January in Trinidad and Tobago brought together Caribbean governments, port authorities, industry, financiers and technical experts to work out how to move from high‑level climate goals to concrete maritime decarbonisation actions in the region. It was convened under the IMO GreenVoyage2050 programme in collaboration with the Global MTCC Network, under the banner “Unlocking Maritime Decarbonisation in the Caribbean.”

The roundtable was designed to “unlock” decarbonisation by shifting the focus from isolated pilot projects to coordinated regional pathways backed by policy, infrastructure planning and finance. It also aimed to turn global IMO greenhouse gas (GHG) commitments into practical steps for Caribbean states, using real data and case studies from within the region.

• Discussions linked the 2023 IMO GHG Strategy and its enhanced emission-reduction targets to practical implications for Caribbean fleets, ports, and fuel supply chains. Participants examined how upcoming IMO requirements on energy efficiency and alternative fuels could impact regional trade, port competitiveness, and investment needs – highlighting both risks of inaction and opportunities for green maritime services.

• Findings from the Jamaica Maritime Alternative Fuels Study (supported by GreenVoyage2050) illustrated how a Caribbean state can assess fuel demand, identify low‑ and zero‑carbon pathways, and plan supporting infrastructure and policies. The Jamaica case showed how national energy scenarios can be translated into port plans, bunkering strategies, and regulatory roadmaps aligned with long‑term decarbonisation goals.

• A policy‑practice exchange allowed governments, port authorities, ship operators, and energy providers to compare initiatives and explore harmonising regulations, sharing data, and enhancing regional cooperation. Key barriers discussed included small market size, fragmented governance, and limited technical capacity.

• A dedicated finance segment featured development banks and financial institutions discussing tools such as concessional loans, blended finance, and risk‑sharing mechanisms for green shipping and port projects. Dialogue focused on building “bankable” project pipelines – such as green corridors, port electrification, and alternative‑fuel infrastructure – to enable effective capital mobilisation.

• The workshop included the drafting of key regional policy recommendations aimed at coordinating and accelerating action across Caribbean states. These included proposals to harmonise maritime decarbonisation policies, strengthen regional knowledge‑sharing and capacity building, and improve investment facilitation to support clean fuel and infrastructure deployment.

In summary, the event used the global IMO framework, a detailed Jamaica case study, practitioner exchanges and financier input to co‑design practical regional next steps for decarbonising Caribbean shipping and ports.