Three young apprentices have completed Antigua and Barbuda’s first Maritime Apprenticeship Programme, marking a milestone for the country’s shipping and port sector.

The six-week initiative, launched earlier this year at the PMAC Conference in Curaçao, is a partnership between Tropical Shipping, the Port Management Association of the Caribbean (PMAC) and the Antigua and Barbuda Port Authority.

The training combined classroom instruction, hands-on experience and mentorship in areas including cargo handling, vessel operations and port logistics.

Tamara Lowe-James, Island Manager of Tropical Shipping and chair of the programme committee, said the initiative aimed to build a skilled and motivated workforce. “Our industry’s future depends on the passion and resilience of young professionals,” she said.

Acting Port Manager Jason Roberts said the programme was helping to highlight career paths that often go unnoticed. He noted that ports were becoming more technologically advanced, increasing the need for efficient and well-managed operations.

The apprentices received certificates during a ceremony on Tuesday and shared how the experience strengthened their technical skills and career ambitions.

Organisers thanked several local partners and confirmed the programme will run annually, selecting three new participants each year as part of ongoing efforts to build a more resilient maritime workforce.