Kingston Wharves opens commercial stripping centre

KINGSTON WHARVES Limited (KWL) has opened a dedicated warehouse and stripping centre to enhance its support to commercial customers and expand its bonded warehouse capacity. The new facility, located on the terminal, officially opened on Wednesday, November 12, 2025.

The KW Commercial Stripping Centre provides six stripping bays and 10,000 square feet of container-stripping space. It forms part of a broader 30,000-square-foot warehouse footprint, with the remaining areas scheduled for phased development.

Dianna Blake-Bennett, general manager of warehousing and logistics at KWL, described the establishment of the commercial warehouse as a strategic investment designed to improve service delivery to commercial clients. She noted that the facility significantly strengthens KWL’s ability to meet the growing needs of businesses requiring container stripping, customised third-party logistics solutions, and the handling of both full-container-load (FCL) and less-than-container-load (LCL) cargo.

Blake-Bennett added that the new warehouse reflects KWL’s continued commitment to providing high-quality services for both personal shippers and commercial clients in an increasingly demanding global supply-chain environment.

She emphasised that efficiency remains central to customers’ needs, particularly for businesses moving commercial cargo. “From keeping store shelves stocked and ensuring timely delivery of medical supplies to supporting last-mile distribution and preparing goods for export, our commercial clients rely on speed and reliability,” she said. “That is why we have developed a dedicated commercial warehouse — to provide a streamlined, purpose-built solution that meets the evolving needs of today’s logistics landscape.”

For commercial customers handling bulky cargo, operations will continue to be facilitated at the Berth 5 Warehouse, which is equipped to manage oversize and extra-large shipments. Additionally, KWL’s 160,000-square-foot Total Logistics Facility and the Kingport Warehouse Complex will remain dedicated to serving LCL shippers moving personal-effects cargo.

Earlier this week, KWL hosted a facility tour for business partners. Michael Milwood, vice-president of the Jamaica Society of Customs Brokers and Freight Forwarders, welcomed the new development, noting its timeliness.

“The creation of a dedicated space for the stripping and processing of commercial cargo is timely, as we are in a unique situation with increased cargo from the usually busy Christmas season and the influx of much-needed relief shipments pouring in after Melissa,” he said. “The centre will go a far way in creating additional storage and processing space, which should serve Jamaica well.”

The opening of the Commercial Stripping Centre follows the recent construction of KWL’s 130,000-square-foot integrated logistics facility on Ashenheim Road, which includes 74,000 square feet of dry logistics space and 57,000 square feet of cold storage within a Special Economic Zone.