The name Tropical Shipping has become synonymous with superior service. That’s because after providing regular container and ocean-transport services from North
America to the Caribbean for more than 50 years, the company has become the undisputed market leader in the regional shipping business.
Established in 1963, the Florida based company owned by the Saltchuk Company based in Seattle, runs a fleet of 15 steamships specialising in on-time and reliable shipping services. Tropical Shipping’s foreign flag fleet provides service from Canada to the Caribbean, serving 28 islands in the region from Guyana to Puerto Rico, to the Bahamas and destinations in between.
Tropical Shipping’s freight-shipping services are specifically designed to provide their customers with full service cargo logistics, warehousing and consolidation, as well as cargo insurance, using state- of-the-art facilities in select seaside ports.
The company also caters to the ever-growing shipping needs of supermarket chains. They also provide refrigerated and dry cargo services to hotels and restaurants, and ship building materials, hardware and equipment for construction companies.
As part of their commitment to St Lucia, last year Tropical Shipping incorporated a new company under the name Tropical Shipping St Lucia Ltd, affirming their continued commitment to their local customers.
“We have been serving the St. Lucian market for almost 35 years,” says Tropical Shipping St. Lucia Sales Manager, Eldris Mauricette. “We have one employee who has been with us from inception. Tropical Shipping’s relationship with our customers in St. Lucia and the rest of the Caribbean remains deep and lasting, built on leadership, trust, responsiveness and good corporate citizenship,” Mauricette added.
The company goes to great lengths to keep abreast with technological advancements. They continually invest in the creation and maintenance of equipment that support both their customers and staff, including the addition of new containers to their fleet and regular maintenance of their vessels. They also provide continuous training to their employees, all of which are aimed at improving the quality of the customer experience while focusing on the company’s mission of delivering a reliable and committed service. The company is currently building new vessels scheduled to be delivered in 2018.
Tropical Shipping believes that investing in the company is what makes them market leaders, thereby enabling them to provide superior service and develop new and strategic business partnerships.
“Our main advantage is our fixed sailing and arrival into the markets that we serve. This allows our customers to plan their inventory management and, in some instances, manage a just-in-time inventory management system around our schedule. The other advantage is our unrivaled customer service and our automated systems which stem from catering to the needs of our workforce, and especially our customers,” says Mauricette.
“Everything we do, every value we stand for, every course of action we take, is intended to deliver the highest level of service to our customers. This commitment is embodied in our Tropical Shared Values which build the foundation of our relationships and guide everything we do,” Mauricette added.
Giving back to the community is also high on the company’s list of priorities. In February 2017 the parent company of Tropical Shipping, the Saltchuk Company, provided the St Lucia Youth Business Trust with a grant of US$15000. In May Tropical Shipping through collaborations with Caribbean- Central American Action (C-CAA), Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) and St Lucia Chamber of Commerce Industry and Agriculture hosted a Disaster Management workshop bringing together over seventy five private and public sector representatives to develop and deliver disaster management solutions based on relationships of trust, open lines of communication, shared commitment and a common concern for the people and economies of the region.
