The original Puerta de Esquivela was a harbour completed in 1959 and named after the first deputy governor of Jamaica, Juan de Esquivel.[1][2] Port Esquivel as a loading port was established in the 1950s by Alumina Jamaica Limited.[2][3] Alumina shipments from the port started in early 1952, when the country's alumina industry was still in its infancy.[4] Port activities were halted during Hurricane Ivan in September 2004.[5]
Located 22 miles (35 km) west of Kingston,[6] Port Esquivel is primarily an alumina-handling facility but is also the only port on Jamaica's south coast capable of accommodating large ships.[7] Its 645 feet (197 m) pier is made of concrete and steel and some 35,000 tonnes (34,000 long tons; 39,000 short tons) of goods can be loaded and processed in 38 hours. Two vessels can berth at the port concurrently.[8][9]
A 14 miles (23 km)-long channel allows for the export of alumina and molasses and for the import of fuel oil and other alumina-related products like bauxite.[3][7]Texaco supplies oil to the Jamaica Public Service (JPS) via its oil storage plant on Port Esquivel.[10] Port Esquivel has its own fire brigade.[11]
According to a 1987 environmental study, alumina pollution at Port Esquivel was negatively affecting the growth of the coastal sea grass; in 1984 alone, close to 5 acres (2.0 ha) of seagrass beds were destroyed. Oil pollution from leakages at the Texaco storage facility similarly damaged the nearby corals.[10]
