Dominica Air and Sea Ports Authority (DASPA)

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Dominica Air and Sea Ports Authority (DASPA) is the statutory body that manages, operates, and develops Dominica’s ports of entry (airports, seaports, ferry terminals) and related facilities. Created to centralise transport gateways, it links national commerce, tourism, and border security with regional and international networks while coordinating closely with customs, immigration, police, and disaster management authorities.

DASPA was established by the Dominica Air and Sea Ports Authority Act No. 8 of 2006, which consolidated the former port authority and the government’s airports division under a single board and management. The Act empowers DASPA to plan, build, maintain, and regulate port and airport infrastructure, set and collect fees, ensure safe operations, and cooperate with state agencies on security and environmental protection.

DASPA’s Network of Facilities

DASPA’s portfolio covers all primary gateways by air and sea:

• Douglas-Charles Airport (DOM) on the northeast coast functions as the main airport, handling scheduled and charter services, airport firefighting and rescue, airside safety, and passenger operations.
• Canefield Airport (DCF) near Roseau supports regional and private aviation, training flights, and business charters.
• Woodbridge Bay Deep Water Harbour in Roseau is the principal cargo and container port, hosting warehouses, sheds, equipment yards, and customs-controlled areas that feed the national supply chain.
• Portsmouth Port (Longhouse Jetty) serves the north with small to medium cargo operations, fishing landings, and border processing within Prince Rupert’s Bay.
• Cabrits Cruise Ship Berth in Portsmouth is a purpose-built cruise pier adjacent to Cabrits National Park and Prince Rupert’s Bay. It enables direct cruise calls to northern sites, disperses visitor arrivals away from Roseau during peak periods, and anchors tourism development around the Cabrits area.
• Roseau Ferry Terminal handles inter-island fast ferries, immigration and customs processing, and baggage control for regional passenger flows.
• Anse du Mai Port provides state presence and border services for the smaller maritime movements along the northeast coast.

Organisational units and connections to government and security agencies

DASPA operates through specialised divisions that coordinate daily operations and contingency planning:

• Airport Operations Division covering airside management, terminal services, aviation security coordination, and aircraft rescue and firefighting.
• Seaport Operations Division responsible for berthing, stevedoring interfaces, yard management, cruise and ferry scheduling, and port security postures.
• Engineering and Maintenance Unit overseeing piers, fenders, lighting, navigational aids, pavements, terminal systems, and hurricane hardening projects.
• Finance and Administration manages tariffs, concessions, procurement, payroll, and cost recovery.
• Security and Compliance liaising with the Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force, the Customs and Excise Division, the Immigration Department, the Office of Disaster Management, and line ministries on readiness, drills, and intelligence-sharing.

Figures, traffic patterns, and economic significance

Throughput fluctuates with regional trade, weather events, and tourism cycles, yet a few patterns are consistent. Woodbridge Bay Port processes the bulk of national imports and exports, often measured in hundreds of thousands of tonnes of cargo in strong years. Cruise arrivals have historically concentrated in Roseau, with the Cabrits Cruise Ship Berth adding northern capacity to support shore excursions in Portsmouth and the national park. Douglas–Charles Airport remains the primary aviation hub, typically handling several hundred thousand passengers in healthy travel periods. These flows translate into fiscal receipts via port dues, passenger charges, cargo handling, storage, and concessions that support DASPA’s operations and contribute to public finances.

Security, safety, and regulatory compliance across gateways

DASPA’s security posture integrates maritime and aviation requirements. Port facilities apply ISPS Code measures such as restricted zones, vetted access, patrols, CCTV, and ship–port interface protocols. Airports align with ICAO standards by conducting safety management, runway inspections, rescue and firefighting readiness, avsec screening, and incident reporting. On the border-control side, DASPA hosts and supports Customs and Immigration checkpoints, facilitating inspections, manifests, and the exchange of advanced passenger or cargo information. Environmental obligations include waste reception arrangements for ships, stormwater control, and safeguarding sensitive coastal assets near facilities such as Cabrits.

Strategic projects, resilience measures, and regional integration

DASPA’s planning emphasises resilience and service continuity given Dominica’s hurricane exposure. Priorities include pier reinforcement, fender and bollard upgrades, lighting and navigation aid reliability, improved mooring plans, and terminal hardening against wind and surge. On the airport side, drainage, pavement rehabilitation, and standby power projects reduce downtime after severe weather. Cruise development at Cabrits spreads visitor flows and strengthens northern economies, while periodic improvements at Woodbridge Bay aim to protect supply chains under stress.

Regionally, DASPA participates in information-sharing with neighbouring port and airport authorities, aligns on Caribbean shipping routes and ferry schedules, and collaborates on emergency relief corridors after disasters. This cooperation supports faster restoration of cargo and passenger movements, which is essential for the national economy and public services.

Connected Acts and policies that frame DASPA’s work

To place DASPA within the broader statutory landscape:

• Dominica Air and Sea Ports Authority Act No. 8 of 2006 provides DASPA’s mandate, governance, and financing powers.
• Customs Act 2010 and Customs (Control and Management) Act regulate cargo, warehousing, and enforcement at seaports and ferry terminals.
• Immigration legislation and regulations govern entry, visas, and passenger control at airports and seaports.
• Shipping and maritime security regulations aligned with the ISPS Code define port facility security plans and drills.
• Civil aviation legislation sets airport safety, operations, and aviation security rules consistent with ICAO.
• Disaster management legislation supports business continuity and recovery planning across all DASPA sites.
• Environmental and marine pollution instruments guide waste and spill controls relevant to port operations.

Current outlook for infrastructure, service quality, and governance

DASPA’s agenda focuses on reliable supply chains, diversified cruise access through Cabrits, stronger safety compliance, and faster recovery after extreme weather. Continued collaboration with customs, immigration, police, and disaster agencies, supported by the Acts noted above, is central to keeping Dominica’s gateways secure, competitive, and ready to scale with tourism and trade demand.